The spotlight now switches to the QNB Stars League after the international break during which the opening-round matches of Ooredoo Cup were played. The Week 7 fixtures will be held on Saturday, 19th October (three games), and Sunday, 20th October (two games).

The match between Al Khor and champions Al Sadd has been deferred due to the latter’s AFC Champions League second-leg semifinal against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, scheduled for 22nd October in Riyadh.

The fixtures are Al Rayyan vs Qatar SC (17:25, Al Gharafa Stadium), Al Sailiya vs Al Wakrah (17:25, Al Ahli Sadium) and Al Ahli vs Al Shahania (19:35) at Al Ahli Stadium on Saturday, Umm Salal vs Al Duhail (17:25, Al Arabi Stadium) and Al Arabi vs Al Gharafa (19:35, Al Arabi Stadium) on Sunday.

The Al Arabi vs Al Gharafa fixture is the highlight of Week 7 action. It will be noted for more reasons than one.

Al Arabi are second in the table with 13 points, one less than Al Duhail. However, Al Arabi have the advantage of having played one match less as their fixture against Al Sadd in Week 5 was deferred owing to the latter’s AFC Champions League semifinal first leg against Al Hilal.

Al Gharafa are fifth in the standings with 11 points. Both teams have outstanding players in their ranks and passionate fans, and all that should make the contest gripping and entertaining.

The Umm Salal vs Al Duhail clash will also hog the limelight, the former ninth with five points and the latter topping the chart.

Al Rayyan go into their game against Qatar SC on a high, having defeated Al Sadd in the high-profile Qatar Clasico in Week 6. The victory also helped The Lions storm into the top-four bracket for the first time in the 2019-20 season QNB Stars League. They have 12 points, the same as Al Sadd, but are placed fourth on goal difference.

Qatar SC are languishing at 11th spot with three points, so they will be keen to put up a winning performance.

Al Sailiya, eighth with seven points, will look to get back on the winning path when they take on Al Wakrah, seventh with same number of points.

However, Al Wakrah are placed ahead of Al Sailiya on better goal difference.

Al Ahli will eye nothing less than a victory when they play bottom side Al Shahania.