The encounter between Al Arabi vs Al Rayyan on Friday, 14th September, will steal the spotlight of 2018-19 QNB Stars League’s Week 5 action. The kick-off is at 18:00 at the Al Arabi Stadium.
The showdown between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan is one of the signature matches in the competition. More so because these are the two teams with perhaps the largest fan base in Qatar.
It is also going to be exciting as the clash will be more noted for fan rivalry.
Fans can make or mar matches, the extent of which varies depending on the degree of their passion and intensity. All that makes football the sport with the largest following in the world.
Passionate supporters play crucial roles in their clubs’ encouraging performances by motivating the players to bring out their best.
The same is the case with Al Arabi and Al Rayyan.
Al Arabi are fourth in the standings with nine points from three wins and a loss. They had suffered a 1-10 defeat at the hands of league leaders Al Sadd in Week 2. Other than that, The Dream Team, coached by Croat Luka Bonacic, have done well so far this season.
Franco Arizala spearheads the challenge of an Al Arabi side that also includes players such as Brazilians Diego Jardel and Mailson de Farias, and Iraqi Ahmed Ibrahim.
Their notable Qatari players are Mohamed Salah El Neel, Mustafa Abdi, Fahd Khalfan, goalkeeper Masoud Zeraei, Ahmed Fathi and Abdullah Marafih.
Al Rayyan are close behind in the table, in the fifth spot with eight points. The Lions won two games and drew as many.
They have in their ranks Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria, Khalfan Ibrahim, Abdulrahman Al Harazi, Daniel Goumou, Gonzalo Vieira and Koh Myong-Jin.
Argentinian striker Jonathan Menendez joined them from Independiente, but has yet to take the field. Al Rayyan have not made a replacement for Moroccan striker Abderrazaq Hamdallah, who left the club.
Tickets can be purchased online at:
tickets.qsl.qa
Source: qsl.qa