Umm Salal face Al Gharafa in a strong encounter in Week 9 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Saturday, November 25, 2023. The kick-off is at 5.30pm.

It is expected to be a fierce contest given the attacking abilities of the two teams and their focus on gaining the three points. Regardless of their rankings in the league, both Umm Salal and Al Gharafa will aim to do their best to register a victory.

Umm Salal are ranked sixth with 11 points, having scored three wins, recorded two draws and suffered three defeats.

In contrast, Al Gharafa occupy the second spot in the standings on goal difference, equal with Al Sadd in points (each having 19 points). The team has so far achieved six wins, and have lost one match and drawn one.

Umm Salal have shown good form of late having made it to the quarterfinals of Ooredoo Cup after topping Group A with 11 points, while Al Gharafa missed out on the grade ending up in fifth place in Group B.

The match in the league championship will therefore be open to all possibilities and each team will strive to give off their best to bag the valuable three points.

On the sidelines, the efforts of rival coaches – Frenchman Patrice Carteron of Umm Salal and Portuguese Pedro Martins of Al Gharafa – will also be intense in pushing their players in delivering their best. Both coaches realize the importance of a win and the gains ahead in the championship for their respective teams.