Reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan take on newly promoted Al Shahania in the first match of the QSL for both teams. The match will be played at the Al Sadd stadium on Friday.
 
Al Rayyan will be looking to bounce back after their Sheikh Jassim cup defeat to Lekhwiya. The lions will be ready to defend their title against minnows Al Shahania.
 
Jorge Fossati, the head coach of Al Rayyan, is not underestimating his newly promoted opponents, “We start the league against a newly promoted team with many new players. We know about the caliber of their coach and we respect them a lot. We need to be ready to face a tough opponent and we need to be ready to display our best football.”
 
Fossati believes his team has learned their lesson from their defeat to Lekhwiya, “Lekhwiya team is one of the best in the region. Many of their players play in the national team and there is nothing strange in the fact that Lekhwiya can beat Rayyan. It was our first game and we had some mistakes but we have learned from them.”
 
Speaking about the tough schedule ahead he said, “As Rayyan coach I will be very happy if national teams calls for more players from my side. We are taking one game at a time and our main priority right now is the game against Shahaniya,” added the Uruguayan tactician.
 


Al Shahania is one of the two sides to be promoted to the QSL this season from the Qatar Gas League. Their main objective this season will be to avoid relegation to the Qatar Gas League at the first time of asking.
 
Fathi Jabbal, the head coach of Al Shahania, is excited about the start of the QSL, “We are excited for the start of the league. We prepared very well and unfortunately the first match is against Al Rayyan. It’s a team we respect a lot but we are focused on our team. We will not be easily beaten.”
 
“Their no excuses in football, only hard work. I have full confidence in our players. We have a good group of players who they want to do something positive in the league,” added the Tunisian tactician.
 
This season will see four teams drop down to the Qatar Gas League and Jabbal is relying on the fighting spirit of his team, “We know four teams will be relegated. So we have to fight to stay in the league and we will fight for the first ten spots.”