Kick-off at 17:30 pm at Al Sadd Stadium on Sunday the 18th of October. 

Al Sadd Head Coach Hussein Ammouta    
 I am happy that my international players have come back without any injury. Except for Saad al-Sheeb. The Qatar team is difficult to play against. They have had problems at the start of the league. But we have to well-prepared and well-organised.
 
We know that normally it's three days gap between national team duty and QSL. This time we had four days. The players had one day off. They played difficult games when they were away. On their return, Hassan al-Haydos had some niggles, Abdelkarim had a bit of fatigue. Our squad was completed only yesterday. We have tried to constantly stay in touch with the players and know how they feel and what they need. So that we can prepare them well for the next game. Because playing with the national team is not easy and it can demand a lot from you.
 
Despite the problems that Qatar SC are going through, our players will have to put in extra effort to win this game. We missed two points against Qatar SC last season. We will have to start the game strong and play with more concentration and determination. 
 
Al-Haydos is doing well with us and with the national team. He finished last season as the best player in Qatar. That is good for us. He's still young and has a bright future ahead of him. Sadd play as a group and inside the group he is definitely one of the players who make a big difference. 
 
Khalfan had played the last two games but didn't play the entire duration. He can play for 15-20 mins. Al-Sheeb will need six weeks of recovery. But its a good thing because the other goalkeepers will get a chance to showcase their skills.
 
We know that Qatar is having problems but in football that is normal. I have seen two games of Qatar SC. I feel that they could resolve their problems against Umm Salal. They were 2-0 up, lost a lot of opportunities and then conceded two goals at the end of the game. But if we see their performance as whole, they were doing well. They need to be a bit more organised in defence. But for me Qatar SC will always be a strong team and we have to give our 100 per cent without focussing too much on the opponent.
 


Qatar SC Head Coach Radhi Shenaishil
The ambitions of the two teams are different. Sadd are playing for the title. Our start wasn't good. We have four defeats so far despite our players putting in strong performances. The best example is our last game against Salal. We were winning 2-0 but we finished with a draw.The international break wasn't good for us because we were improving well. But now we will try to comeback, resolve the few problems that we have. We need just one win to come back.
 
Sadd game will be difficult for both sides. No one can say that it will be an easy game for Sadd. it's football. A few details here and there can make a big difference. No doubt, we are playing a big team with big personalities but I believe that Qatar club also has the ability. The ambitions may be different at the moment. Sadd are playing for the title and we are looking to move out of the relegation zone. We respect Sadd but we are not afraid of them.
 
In football situations can change everyday - injuries, string of defeats. A good team is one which knows how to bounce back from difficult situations. We have confidence issues among the players right now but a victory can offset that. Also what happened with Harbaoui can have a negative effect on the team. But the players have to believe in themselves and know that we are more than one player. The players are working hard and we still only one victory and things will change. We still have 66 points left to take.
 
I have refused a role with the Iraqi team because of the contract with Qatar SC. But that doesn't  mean that I become a non-Iraqi. I have problems with our team and I need to resolve that. I can't leave a club mid-way like that. I have to keep working with this team. Iraqi team cannot depend on just one coach. I have to be honest to my profession. It's not about the money. Maybe Qatar club and Iraqi national team are in the same situation but this club has respected me and I am grateful for that. 
 
I am preparing my team with the players I have. I see this as a big opportunity for local players to stand up and deliver. Even teams like Chelsea are going through a patch of trouble. They have big players and a big coach. So losses can affect any team. We don't like to talk about this with players. There's no pressure one me from the administration. And that's a good thing.