Al Ahli will have a strong face-off against Al Shamal in Week 17 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday, February 28, 2025. The kick-off is at 4.45pm.

Al Ahli currently hold the fourth position in the standings with 28 points, six points ahead of Al Shamal, who are in sixth place. Al Shahania occupy the fifth position with 23 points.

The race for a top-four finish is expected to intensify the upcoming match between Al Ahli and Al Shamal. A victory for Al Ahli would not only bolster their standing, but also help them regain momentum following two consecutive defeats – against Qatar SC and Al Arabi.

Conversely, a win for Al Shamal would narrow the gap to just three points behind Al Ahli, prompting them to capitalize on any missteps from their rivals in their quest to achieve a favourable standing by the season’s conclusion.

This season, Al Shamal have demonstrated a remarkable technical performance, highlighted by the outstanding contributions of several players, particularly Algerian striker and league top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah, who has netted 17 goals and played a pivotal role in their recent success, including a notable 2-0 victory against Al Khor.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli have faced setbacks, suffering their second consecutive defeat and fourth overall this season against Al Arabi in the Al Hilal Derby. Yet, they have managed to retain their fourth position.

Al Ahli coach Igor Biscan is eager for the match against Al Shamal to mark the beginning of a strong resurgence for the team, especially after the commendable performance displayed by the players against Al Arabi, despite the 2-4 loss.

On the other hand, Al Shamal coach David Prats is determined to maintain the positive results and remain vigilant for any opportunities to capitalize on competitors’ misfortunes in order to secure the best possible standings by the end of season.