Both sides looking to kick-start their 2017 in the Spotlight match

The spotlight match for round 20 of the QSL season will involve two of the most popular teams in Qatar when Al Arabi welcome Al Gharafa to Al Arabi stadium on Thursday evening. Both sides haven’t enjoyed the best starts to 2017, with Al Arabi and Al Gharafa picking up only one win each from their last five QSL games.  A victory on Friday would go some way to improve either clubs fortunes as we head into the final six games of the season.

Al Arabi have slowly stabilized under new coach Osvaldo Olivera and stopped the rot of two consecutive defeats in the league with a 1-1 draw against Muaither in round 19. Olivera has been eager to stress that his side are attempting to adapt to his ideas with the Brazilian coach claiming that it will take time for his side to improve. However with the Dream Team just four points away from the relegation zone, they will need results soon to confirm their status in the league for another season.

Olivera will be hoping Mohammed Khalfan can continue his goal scoring run in the league, against an Al Gharafa defense that has conceded plenty of goals in the last few weeks. Khalfan notched his side’s only goal last time with an improvised flick against Muaither, and will be charged with leading the line again for Al Arabi.

As for Al Gharafa they have been on a similar bad run in the league, after enjoying a relatively strong start to the season. Pedro Caixina’s side failed to score against the leagues bottom side Al Wakrah in a drab 0-0 draw last time out. More worrying perhaps for the Portuguese coach is that up to six players are facing a race to be fit for the game. Caixina will be hoping for a repeat performance from his side who ran out 4-2 winners in the last game between the two sides.

Han Kook-young has been one of Al Gharafa’s most consistent players this term, and the South Korean international will be expected to lead his side in midfield. Han is constantly covering vast distances for his side, and his hard running will be needed as the Cheetahs look to enforce their passing game on a tough Al Arabi side.

Friday night’s game certainly will have plenty on the line with both Al Arabi and Al Gharafa targeting wins to get their second half of the season going. You can pick up a season ticket to see the game here.