The QNB Stars League Week 21 fixtures are Al Arabi vs Al Gharafa (Al Arabi Stadium), Al Rayyan vs Umm Salal (Qatar SC Stadium), Al Kharaitiyat vs Qatar SC (Al Khor Stadium), Al Sadd vs Al Khor (Al Sadd Stadium), Al Markhiya vs Al Duhail (Al Gharafa Stadium) and Al Ahli vs Al Sailiya (Al Ahli Stadium). All matches will kick off simultaneously at 18:05 on Saturday, 17th March, in order to ensure equal advantage for the teams.

Al Arabi vs Al Gharafa

Al Arabi take on Al Gharafa in the highlight match of the week as the tournament draws to a close with one round of games to be played after this.

Both Al Arabi and Al Gharafa had won last week, against Al Rayyan and Al Sailiya respectively, so they will be keen to build on that and sustain the momentum.

One peculiarity with both sides is that they have been doing well in the second phase of the tournament.

Al Arabi are coming from a hat-trick of victories, while The Cheetahs even stormed into the top four on the back of some strong performances.

Al Gharafa, fourth in the table with 32 points, are just one point ahead of Umm Salal, so they will be more keen on winning the next two games and maintain the spot, thereby earning a berth in the elite Qatar Cup.

The Dream Team are ninth on 21 points. They should also be looking for yet another victory.

Al Gharafa had won 3-1 in the first phase.

Al Rayyan vs Umm Salal

Al Rayyan will look to put behind their disappointment of losing to Al Arabi in the ‘fans’ derby’ last week.

The Lions are already assured of the third place with 39 points, after new champions Al Duhail and Al Sadd.

Al Rayyan have been having an unbeaten run in the AFC Champions League and registered their first victory last week, against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Group D.  

Umm Salal will be keen to win and thus displace Al Gharafa from the fourth position.

The Orange Fortress did well in the first phase of this season’s QNB Stars League and occupied the fourth position before they were displaced by Al Sailiya.

Al Rayyan and Umm Salal had played out a 1-1 draw in the first phase.

Al Kharaitiyat vs Qatar SC

Qatar SC can afford to take it easy against Al Kharaitiyat who, on the other hand, are fighting with their back to the wall to avoid relegation.

Qatar SC are eighth with 22 points, while Al Kharaitiyat are 11th with only 13 points.

Qatar SC beat Al Khor 2-0 and Al Kharaitiyat lost 0-5 to Al Duhail in Week 20.

Qatar SC had won 3-2 in the first phase.

Al Sadd vs Al Khor

Al Sadd have already been assured of the runners-up spot in this season’s QNB Stars League, yet they would be keen to keep winning. The Wolves had lost 1-2 to Umm Salal last week.

As for Al Khor, they are out of the danger zone, but would be eager to make amends for their 0-2 loss to Qatar SC in Week 20.

Al Sadd had won 3-2 in the first phase.

Al Markhiya vs Al Duhail

Al Markhiya defeated Al Sadd in the very first round and then Al Gharafa in Week 18. However, both results were overturned, the first for fielding an ineligible player and then for violating the rule regarding fielding of resident players. They included six instead of the stipulated five in the start list.

Al Markhiya have everything to play for against new champions Al Duhail as The Oryxes, last with 12 points, face a strong possibility of getting relegated.

Al Duhail had won 2-1 in the first phase.

Al Ahli vs Al Sailiya

Al Sailiya will have the services of Abdul Karim Salem Al Ali and Mustafa Abdulhafeez when they take on Al Ahli.

The duo had been missing in action when Al Sailiya lost 0-3 to Al Gharafa last week due to suspension.

Al Sailiya are sixth with 25 points, seven less than fourth-placed Al Gharafa.

Al Ahli are seventh with 22 points. They had lost 0-2 to Al Markhiya last week.

Al Ahli had won 2-1 in the first phase.