Al Gharafa and Al Wakrah will clash in a strong contest of Week 10 of 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Saturday. The kick-off is at 5.30pm.

Being in the top four, each team would be eager to seize the three valuable points. Given their strengths and form, the match is expected to be full of excitement, enthusiasm and intense competition between the players on the field, and on the sidelines between coaches Pedro Martins of Al Gharafa and Marquez Lopez of Al Wakrah.

While Al Gharafa will aim to consolidate their position further being at the top of standings, Al Wakrah will seek to compensate for their first loss of the season when they lost to Al Arabi 1-2 in the previous round. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa won by the same margin over Umm Salal in their last game.

Al Gharafa have 22 points from nine matches, gained from seven wins, one loss and a draw, and having scored 29 goals and conceded 21.

On the other hand, Al Wakrah, who have played eight matches so far and have a postponed game against Al Duhail, are third in the rankings with 17 points, from five wins, two draws and one defeat. They have scored 15 goals and conceded 7.

Al Wakrah will be missing Hamdi Fathi in this match, who received a red card in the last clash against Al Arabi. But the team has top players in all positions who would be able to compensate for the absence. Al Wakrah’s squad includes prominent stars including Mohamed Benyettou, Hazem Shehata, Jacinto Dala, Ahmed Fadel, Ayoub Assal, Lucas Mendes and Saoud Al Khater.

Al Gharafa will regain the services of their star and captain Yacine Brahimi, who was suspended in the Umm Salal match, and his return will constitute for a great strength for the team which also includes prominent players in various positions including Ferjani Sassi, who scored the winning goal against Umm Salal, and Farid Boulaya, who is presenting strong levels, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Yohan Boli, Amro Seraj and Homam Al Ameen.

Coaches Martins and Lopez will certainly be looking forward to put together their best players out and to clinch the best result from this crucial contest.