Thursday’s QSL action kicks off at the Al Khor stadium when Al Kharitiyat welcome current QSL champions Lekhwiya. Amar Osim will be hoping not to repeat the 7-0 thrashing his side received back in the first half of the season.

 Lekhwiya are currently on fine form in the league and our unbeaten in 7 QSL matches. The Red Knights have also just picked up the Sheikh Jassim cup, comfortably beating rivals Al Sadd 4-1. Lekhwiya should have a fully fit side available for selection.  Djamel Belmadi’s side has been on fantastic form over the last few weeks, and will be hoping to pick up all three points to pile pressure on league leaders Al Rayyan.

The later 19:00 kick-off will see Al Arabi face Qatar Sports club at Al Gharafa stadium. Qatar Sports club are desperately in need of the points, as they are battling in the QSL relegation zone. They have strengthened their squad in January bringing in midfielder Emiliano Vecchio from Chilean club Colo-Colo. Sebastiao Lazaroni will be hoping his side can hit the ground running, after convening a closed training camp in Doha.

Whilst for Al Arabi, they enjoyed a training camp in Abud Dhabi. Gianfranco Zola’s side haven’t been too far away from the top four places this season, and will be looking to kick-start the second part of the season with a victory over their rivals.

The second 19:00 kick-off will see Al Wakrah face Al Sadd at Al Wakrah stadium. Wakrah are currently enduring mixed fortunes this season under head coach Mauricio Larriera. They are in tenth place in the QSL standings and know that a run of bad form could lead them into the QSL relegation places.

As for Al Sadd, they will have to forget their humiliating 4-1 defeat to rivals Lekhwiya in the Sheikh Jassim cup. Head coach Jesualdo Ferreira should be able to call on talismanic midfielder Xavi Hernandez, but Sadd will be without Abdelkarim Hassan.  The influential defender is currently captaining Qatar at the AFC U23 championships.