The QNB Stars League’s seventh round will be played over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, just like in the previous two weeks — one match on Thursday, three on Friday and two on Saturday. Al Ahli will start the proceedings by playing host to formidable Al Sadd on Thursday (19:25).

Friday’s matches will be Al Rayyan Vs Qatar SC (Al Sadd Stadium 17:15), Al Gharafa Vs Al Markhiya (Al Gharafa Stadium 17:15) and Al Khor Vs Al Duhail (Al Khor Stadium 19:30). The action will conclude on Saturday, with Al Sailiya facing Umm Salal at the Al Ahli Stadium (17:15) and Al Kharaitiyat playing Al Arabi at the Al Khor Stadium (19:25).

The Al Rayyan Vs Qatar SC will be the highlight of matches. That they go into the game in contrasting moods does not discount the rivalry between two sides with a lot of pedigree. Al Rayyan are flying high after their victory over Al Sadd in last week’s ‘Qatar Clasico’ while Qatar SC are lying at rock bottom in the 12-team standings.

After that, the spotlight will be on the Al Sailiya Vs Umm Salal game. Umm Salal are currently fourth in the table on 13 points and Al Sailiya just behind with a point less, so it will also be a fight for the top-four position.

Umm Salal were back on winning ways last week after defeating Al Khor by a solitary goal. Both teams have players of high calibre.

Al Ahli will definitely take on Al Sadd in a confident manner, having drawn with Al Arabi by twice coming from behind. Al Sadd cannot afford any more slip-ups in their bid to annex the league title for a 14th time. The Wolves will just hope Xavi Hernandez, Jugurtha Hamroun, Baghdad Bounedjah will be their usual self.

Al Khor face an acid test at home against leaders Al Duhail while Al Gharafa will hope to bag full points when they host Al Markhiya.

Al Arabi, second last in the standings, badly need some points when they travel to Al Khor to play Al Kharaitiyat.