Al Shamal will clash with table toppers Al Duhail in Week 9 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium on Friday, November 1, 2024. The kick-off is at 5.30pm.

The contest is expected to be tight and full of excitement.

Given the competitive nature of Al Shamal, who have been quite distinguished since the start of the season having defeated defending champions Al Sadd in the opening round 2-1, then Al Arabi 5-2 and tied with Al Gharafa 1-1, the task for Al Duhail will not be easy.

Al Shamal are currently in seventh place in the standings with 10 points, ahead on goal difference from Al Rayyan and Al Arabi, collected from three wins and a draw besides four defeats, and only two points separate Al Shamal from being in the top four. Therefore, the team would be looking to produce their best against Al Duhail and advance further in the standings.

Despite losing 0-2 to Al Shahania in the last round, where they did not perform at their standards, Al Shamal are hoping to quickly recover and provide the same performance they had against Al Arabi in order to return to the path of victories.

The team will be missing the services of Mohammed Nasser Al Manai, who received a red card in the last match against Al Shahania.

Al Shamal coach Nuno Almeida will be counting on Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah and the brilliant Mohammed Omar to score against Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria, besides banking on his other players like Younes Belhanda and Omid Ebrahimi.

Meanwhile, Al Duhail coach Christophe Galtier would be wary that any stumble (after their only loss in the sixth round against Al Shahania and a draw with Al Gharafa in the eighth round) could see them lose points. Al Sadd are four points adrift of gaining the lead. Al Duhail are at the top with 19 points from six wins and a draw and one loss.

Galtier will be pushing his attack line led by Michael Olunga as well as Almoez Ali and Edmilson Junior in bid to outperform Al Shamal.