Qatar SC and Umm Salal will clash in Week 14 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The kick-off is at 6pm. 

The match will see both teams step onto the field, with each one aiming for a win to enhance their position in the rankings.

Qatar SC currently hold the eighth spot with 12 points, while Umm Salal sit in seventh place with 15 points. The three-point gap between them adds fuel to the intensity of match.

In the recent break during AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, both teams diligently focused on their training and preparations. Qatar had emerged victorious in the tournament.

After winning the Ooredoo Cup at the expense of Al Arabi in the final, the technical staff of Umm Salal, led by Frenchman Patrice Carteron, developed a training programme to maintain the readiness of his team.

Umm Salal also participated in the Al Wahda friendly championship in January, where the team lost to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq on penalties in the semifinals. Umm Salal later defeated Zamalek of Egypt 2-0 in the third-place match.

In the friendlies in Doha, Umm Salal lost 2-3 to Al Rayyan and 0-3 to Al Gharafa.

Umm Salal signed Portuguese striker Lucas Joao from Chinese Premier League champion Shanghai Port FC until the end of this season as replacement for Algerian professional Andy Delort.

Conversely, Qatar SC maintained their rigorous training regimen throughout the break to make a powerful comeback in the upcoming Expo Stars League matches. They bolstered their squad by acquiring Ivorian forward Yohan Boli on loan from Al Gharafa as well as defender Diab Haroun from Al Duhail.

Qatar SC played six friendly matches. The Kings lost 0-2 to Iran’s Sepahan and lost 0-3 to Armenia’s FC Noah before beating China’s Shanghai Shenhua 1-0. They then played out draws with Al Khor (1-1) and Al Duhail (3-3), and beat Al Rayyan 3-2.

It may be noted that, before the break, Qatar SC had lost 1-2 to Al Gharafa and Umm Salal were beaten 6-0 by Al Sadd in Week 12.