QSL: Al Gharafa aims for full points against Al Wakrah

In today’s QNB Stars League Round 21 match against Al Wakrah, Al Gharafa will be aiming for all three points as the Cheetahs battle for a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League.

The Week-21 match, which was originally scheduled for April 6, was moved up due to Al Gharafa’s play-off with FC AGMK of Uzbekistan in Doha on April 7 place in the AFC Champions League group stage this year.

The match at Al Gharafa Stadium is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. today.

Al Gharafa, who fell from fourth to the fifth spot after a 1-3 defeat to Al Ahli in Week 19, will be anxious to return to the top-four bracket and improve their qualifying chances in back-to-back Champions League tournaments.

The Cheetahs have 30 points (nine victories, three draws, and seven losses) and a goal differential of +7 (36 goals for and 29 goals against) under Slavisa Jokanovic and are one point behind fourth-placed Qatar SC.

Al Duhail, Al Rayyan, and Al Sadd, the top three Qatari clubs in the QNB Stars League final standings for the 2019-20 season, will compete in the West Asia group stage of this year’s Asian championship, while fourth-placed Al Gharafa will compete in a play-off for a spot in the main draw.

The winner will join Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates, and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan in Group A.

Jokanovic said that Al Wakrah’s capabilities, particularly after they forced a one-all draw against title holders and undefeated Al Sadd in the last QSL match.

With 19 points, Al Wakrah is currently in ninth position in the standings (five victories, four draws, and 10 defeats). The goal difference between them is -14. (15 goals for and 29 against).

Coach Lopez claimed that his players are full of trust after their battle against the high-flying Al Sadd a few days ago.

In the first half of this season’s QSL, Al Gharafa defeated Al Wakrah 1-0.