Al Gharafa brace for Al Sadd test as title contenders face off in QSL

Doha, Qatar: Al Gharafa will have their winning streak in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) under threat as they face defending champions Al Sadd in an ant...

Doha, Qatar: Al Gharafa will have their winning streak in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) under threat as they face defending champions Al Sadd in an anticipated third round match tomorrow.

The Pedro Martins’ men are tied on points with Al Shamal and Qatar SC – the only three sides to win both their matches in the eventful opening rounds of the top-flight.

Al Gharafa opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Umm Salal before edging Al Arabi 2-1 in their previous fixture. But, Martins must be aware that tomorrow’s clash at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium will be his team’s first biggest test in the new season as Al Gharafa are aiming for the title after a third finish in the last season.

Al Gharafa have shown good performance so far with their stars Yacine Brahimi, Ferjani Sassi and Joselu making notable contributions.

But Al Sadd, who bounced back late in the league last season to clinch the Falcon Shield, pose a sterner challenge. The Felix Sanchez-coached side fell to Qatar SC in their opener but they showcased their prowess in a 2-0 victory over Al Ahli.