The QNB Stars League’s Round 9, to be played on Friday and Saturday, promises to be as exciting as the previous week’s action, or probably more.

Friday’s fixtures are Al Markhiya vs Al Arabi (16:00), Al Khor vs Al Sailiya (16:00) and Al Sadd vs Al Duhail (18:10), while Saturday’s matches will be Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Ahli (16:00), Umm Salal vs Qatar SC (16:00) and Al Rayyan vs Al Gharafa (18:10).

Round 8 witnessed some keen contests, including some high-scoring ones, and there is no reason to think otherwise this time around.

Sparks are bound to fly when top two teams Al Sadd and Al Duhail clash against each other. Al Duhail are fresh from their 8-2 defeat of Al Kharaitiyat. The Red Knights are the only unbeaten side in the 12-team tournament and will look to extend their incredible run. 

Al Sadd are on a high having regained the second position from Al Rayyan with a big win over Umm Salal, albeit on goal difference. They have +12 as against Al Rayyan’s +11 and both are on 21 points.

The race on top is so intense that only one point separates Al Duhail from Al Sadd and Al Rayyan. The other teams will also be keen to seize the advantage as the league’s first phase is nearing its completion.

After the Al Sadd-Al Duhail duel, the spotlight will be on Al Rayyan vs Al Gharafa.

Al Gharafa have so far registered just one victory and they will have to pull up their socks to cherish any hope of putting it across Al Rayyan. The loss to Al Sailiya last week also saw The Cheetahs slip in the standings by one place to sixth.

Al Sailiya are also having an impressive run of late, recording six victories and standing fourth. They broke into the top four following their Week-7 victory over Umm Salal, who were occupying the fourth position.

The outstanding form of Uzbek striker Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov, who has seven goals to his credit, should stand them in good stead against Al Khor, who jumped from 11th to eighth spot after beating Qatar SC.

Al Khor, on the other hand, will look to register their second victory, and third overall, under new coach Nassif Al Bayawi from Tunisia.

Al Arabi and Al Markhiya have only five points and are lying 10th and 11th respectively in the table. So both teams will desperately look for points when they vie against each other.

Fifth-placed Umm Salal should have it easy when they host basement side Qatar SC, although the Orange Fortress’ performance is slightly on a downward slide of late. Qatar SC, definitely, have an uphill task on hand.

Al Ahli will be confidence-personified, having jumped from eight to sixth spot and registered their second victory last week, when they are hosted by Al Kharaitiyat.