Giants Al Sadd took a big step towards another title as they hit back after being a goal down to beat Al Rayyan 2-1 in a thrilling Week 20 match (Qatar Clasico) of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan club on Saturday.

Pushed back by an Adam Bareiro goal in the 56th minute, Al Sadd rallied as Rafa Mujica fetched the equalizer in the 67th minute and soon Giovani scored their second goal in the 69th minute.

Their 15th win of the league so far (most by any team) took Al Sadd’s tally to 46 points at the top and two points clear of Al Duhail, who earlier went down to Al Shamal 0-4. Al Rayyan stood on 27 points.

Both Al Rayyan and Al Sadd produced a fast-paced game, charging at the rival citadel at every given opportunity. Al Rayyan were the first to attack as early as the seventh minute when a Murad Naji lob from the right was shot over by Hazem Shehata.

In the 26th minute, Al Rayyan’s Mohammed Surag was quick to pick on a pass, rush in and strike but the flag was up as he was clearly offside while breaking away outside the box.

In the 32nd minute, Al Sadd’s Akram Afif dashed into the striking zone but his flick was cut off by Rayyan goalkeeper Samy Beldi.

Two minutes later, Afif set up a pass inside the box for Claudio Luiz Leonel but he kicked the ball straight to Beldi.

Al Rayyan upped the ante in the second half as Roger Guedes caught a long free-kick ball inside the box on the right and while being in the clear he made a strike which was blocked by Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham but the ball on the ricochet fell to a waiting Bareiro, who put the ball into the net.

The Lions’ lead was, however, shortlived as Al Sadd rallied to strike soon as Afif made a back flip to initiate a fine move on the left for a running in Paulo Otavio to put across a cross for a leaping Mujica to make a telling header (1-1).

Two minutes later, Al Sadd fans were up waving the club flags as Pedro Miguel drilled in a powerful drive from the right for a vigorously a sliding-in Giovani to deflect the ball into an empty net.

Al Rayyan tried to make a comeback, but were held back by a strong Al Sadd defence. A Guedes dead-ball kick just before the finish missed the left post by inches, but alert Barsham was also at hand to foil the attempt.