The QNB Stars League’s Week 16 fixtures on Thursday are Al Gharafa vs Al Duhail (Al Gharafa Stadium, 16:40) and Al Rayyan vs Al Sadd (Al Sadd Stadium, 18:50).

Al Gharafa vs Al Duhail

Al Duhail are sure to make life tough for Al Gharafa when they face off on the latter’s home turf. The Red Knights, leading the table with 39 points, will be looking to register their 13th victory and remain as the only unbeaten side so far in this season’s league competition.

Al Duhail boast of the QNB Stars League’s top two scorers — Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi (20) and Tunisian attacking midfielder Youssef Msakni (14). They also have South Korean playmaker Nam Tae-Hee on eight goals among their ranks.

Besides, The Red Knights are the side that has scored the most number of goals (54) this season, while Al Gharafa have only 24.

The Cheetahs are on a high having registered more number of wins (three) in the second phase than they had in the entire first phase (two) and are placed sixth with 20 points.

The Al Gharafa squad consists of Dutch star Wesley Sneijder and Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi. They also have a host of talented Qatari players such as Othman Al Yahri, Muad Hassan, Amro Seraj and Almahdi Ali. They further strengthened the side with Asim Madbo from Al Duhail till the end of this season.

Al Rayyan vs Al Sadd

The second-phase Qatar Clasico is the top draw of QNB Stars League Week 16. Al Sadd and Al Rayyan are neck and neck behind Al Duhail with 37 and 35 points respectively.

Al Sadd will also be keen to avenge their 1-2 loss in the first-phase Qatar Clasico.

Spanish midfield great Xavi Hernandez, Algerian attacking midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun and Qatar international Hassan Al Haidous will lead Al Sadd’s charge, while injured Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah is unlikely to play.

The Wolves will miss Boualem Khoukhi through an injury, but have at their disposal the services of Akram Afif, signed on loan from Villarreal, Spain.

Meanwhile, Al Rayyan have the likes of Moroccan forward Abderrazaq Hamdallah, Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria and Mohsen Moutaouli.

The Lions had just strengthened the squad with defender Ahmed Yasser, who played for Spanish side Cultural Leonesa.

They also have Abdulrahman Al Harazi after his loan period to Al Sailiya and Hossam Kamal following his loan move to Al Arabi.

Off the field, the much-awaited encounter will be a grand fiesta for supporters of two teams with the most fan base in Qatar football.