The QNB Stars League’s sixth round will be played over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, just like the previous week — one match on Thursday, three on Friday and two on Saturday. The action will be kicked off with the Al Markhiya Vs Al Kharaitiyat clash at the Al Arabi Stadium on Thursday (19:30).

Friday’s fixtures will be Umm Salal Vs Al Khor (Al Gharafa Stadium 17:20), Al Ahi Vs Al Arabi (Al Ahli Stadium 17:20) and Al Sadd Vs Al Rayyan (Al Sadd Stadium 19:30). The round will conclude on Saturday, with Qatar SC facing Al Sailiya (17:20) and Al Duhail playing Al Gharafa (19:30), both at the Al Duhail Stadium.

The Al Sadd-Al Rayyan ‘Qatar Classico’ is the highlight of the matches for the sheer excitement and hype it evokes both on and off the field. That it will be a thriller is a foregone conclusion. The fine form of both teams gives credence to the expectations.

Al Duhail and Al Sadd are moving neck and neck on top of the standings, and the latter, placed second on goal difference, will be keen to extend their winning run, while Al Rayyan will also look to collect full points and keep pace with the leading duo. Al Duhail and Al Sadd are on 15 points after five rounds, and Al Rayyan have 12.

Next up in the spotlight will be the game between Al Duhail and Al Gharafa. Al Duhail are on a high and are coming off their big-margin victory over fourth-placed Umm Salal while Al Gharafa, sixth in the table with five points, will look to amend for their shocker against Al Kharaitiyat in the previous round.

Things will not be easy for The Cheetahs. They have to fire on all cylinders if they are to stop a marauding Al Duhail on their tracks. Frenchman Jean Fernandez’s wards should also hope luck is on their side when they take on Algerian Djamel Belmadi-coached The Red Knights.

Promoted side Al Markhiya (rock bottom on three points) and Al Kharaitiyat (seventh with four points) both found their first league victory in Round 5. Al Markhiya had beaten Al Khor. Their confidence level is high and that should make it a contest to watch. 

Umm Salal cannot afford any more slip-ups if they have to be in the top four when they face Al Khor. Umm Salal (10 points) and Al Khor (four) occupy the fourth and eighth spot respectively.

Qatar SC (10th with three points) will be desperate for a win as they take on Al Sailiya (fifth with nine points). Same is the case with Al Arabi (11th on three points) who clash with Al Ahli (ninth on four points).

The Round 5 action saw exciting contests, some of them producing surprise results, and the forthcoming fixtures are also sure to be electrifying.