The round 19 QSL match of the week will see two in-form sides take on each other when Al Ahli take on Al Rayyan on Friday evening. Ahead of the match, QSL online has decided to profile a key player from each side who could make a difference in the game. This week we have decided to focus on central defenders with Al Ahli’s Fred Dabanka and Gonzalo Viera of Al Rayyan coming under the spotlight. All of our data has been supplied by official partner Stats. 

Both players have been ever present for their sides this term playing a part in all eighteen games this campaign. In terms of yellow cards however, Dabanka has picked up one more than Viera with three bookings to the two picked up by the Uruguayan.

 Viera leads the way over his rival in terms of passing and passing success rate, which is to be expected in an Al Rayyan side that prides itself on keeping the ball. Viera averages over 39.7 passes per game, significantly more than Dabanka’s 29.6 average. Whilst Viera’s passing accuracy is an impressive 91.7%, which eclipses Dabanka’s tally of 86.8%.

Dabanka has the upper hand in terms of tackles and interceptions registering 17.4 interceptions compared to 16.1 by Viera. Whilst the no nonsence defender also registers on average 2.3 tackles compared to 0.5 by Viera, this certainly highlights how Dabanka is seen as a vital component to the Al Ahli defense.

Tellingly perhaps, both players have similar distance covers statistics with Dabanka covering 10km compared to Viera’s 9.7km on average per game. Whilst both defenders clock up similar high intensity running stats with Dabanka clocking up 683m to Viera’s 609m on average per game.

It certainly promises to be a eagerly fought and finely poised contest when Al Ahli take on Al Rayyan in the QSL match of the week for round 19 on Friday evening.