Much is at stake when Al Rayyan take on Al Sailiya in Week 21 of the QNB Stars League on Thursday, 4th April. The kick-off is at 20:20 at the Al Ahli Stadium.

The encounter assumes much significance as the outcome will have a bearing on both teams’ final standings in the top four.

Al Sailiya displaced Al Rayyan from the third position after their 1-0 victory over Al Shahania in the last round.

Al Rayyan slipped by one position following their 2-4 loss to Al Gharafa in Week 20.

Al Sailiya have 34 points (11 victories, one draw and eight defeats). The Peregrines have a goal difference of +9 (31 goals for and 22 against).

Al Sailiya, coached for long by Tunisian Sami Trabelsi, will be keen to hold on to the third place even as Al Ahli are breathing down the duo’s neck with 33 points, the same as Al Rayyan but behind on goal difference.

Moroccan striker Rachid Tiberkanine, Abdulkadir Ilyas and Mauricio Junior lead Al Sailiya’s charge, while Al Rayyan have in their ranks the likes of Rodrigo Tabata, Gelmin Rivas and Sebastian Soria.

Al Rayyan have nine victories to their credit. While The Lions drew six matches, they lost five. Their goal difference is +2 (28 goals for and 26 against).

In comparison, Al Sailiya have more number of victories (11 against Al Rayyan’s nine), whereas Al Rayyan have less number of defeats (five against Al Sailiya’s eight).

Al Rayyan had defeated Al Sailiya 2-1 in the first leg.