Saturday, 28th September, 2019

20:00 kick-off at Al Gharafa Stadium

Al Gharafa face Al Sailiya challenge in Week 5 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Saturday.

Both sides have outstanding players in their ranks and that promises a thrilling contest.

Al Gharafa are currently third in the standings even though they have the same number of points (10) and goal difference (seven) as Al Arabi, the latter occupying the second position behind Al Sadd by virtue of having scored more number of goals (11 as against Al Gharafa’s nine).

The Cheetah’s victories were against Al Shahania (3-0), Qatar SC (3-1) and Al Ahli (3-1), while they held Al Rayyan to a goalless draw.

Al Sailiya, who finished a creditable third in the 2018-19 QNB Stars League, could not make a strong start this time around and could register their first victory only in Week 4 (1-0 against Qatar SC) to be on four points.

The Peregrines, however, lost 1-3 to Al Sadd on 24th September in a fixture, deferred from Week 3 because of the latter’s AFC Champions League second-leg quarterfinal against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

Slavisa Jokanovic-coached Al Gharafa boast of Algerian stars Sofiane Hanni and Adlene Guedioura, besides Ahmed Alaaeldin, Othman Al Yahri and Amro Seraj.

Al Sailiya, under Tunisian Sami Trabelsi, have in their ranks the likes of Iranian Karim Ansari, Serigne Mbodji and Nadir Beljadj.