Umm Salal and Al Rayyan will face off in the opening match in Week 12 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Friday, January 10, 2025. The kick-off is at 4.15pm.

The upcoming match holds significant importance due to the current standings of both teams, each urgently vying for three points to avoid setbacks at this critical juncture in the league. The teams are separated by a mere point; Umm Salal are positioned sixth with 14 points, while Al Rayyan sit in eighth place with 13 points.

Umm Salal aim to avenge their first-leg defeat to Al Rayyan, which ended in a 1-3 loss, and they approach this match with heightened confidence following a decisive victory over Al Arabi, where they won 3-0 in the eleventh round.

Orange Fortress’s Spanish coach Pablo Machin is determined to maintain their winning momentum and improve their league standing. He will rely on key players such as Antonio Mance, Oussama Tannane, Khalid Abdulraouf, Adel Alawi and Marouane Louadni.

On the other hand, Al Rayyan, under the guidance of their new Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, who succeeded Younes Ali, aim to deliver a robust performance that will uplift team morale and secure a victory in this match, potentially elevating their points total to 16.

Given the stakes involved for both teams and their shared ambition for victory, the match is anticipated to be thrilling. The tactical battle between the two coaches will also add to the excitement as each team seeks to implement their strategies effectively and achieve a favourable outcome.