(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Qatar Stars League Management has revised fixtures for the 22nd and final week of this season's QNB Stars League. They will now be played over two days, instead of one, on Saturday, 7th April, and Sunday, 8th April. All matches will kick off at 6:15pm, as per the original schedule. Games start simultaneously, so teams get equal advantage. The changes have been made because most positions had been decided ahead of Week 22 action and also to allow the host broadcaster to cover as many matches as possible.
Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al Rayyan finished first, second and third respectively. Al Gharafa and Umm Salal are engaged in a hot tussle for the fourth position. Both have 32 points, but The Cheetahs are currently fourth on better goal difference.
Al Ahli, Qatar SC and Al Khor will all look to better their standings, while Al Sailiya have already been assured of the sixth position. Al Kharaitiyat finished 11th and will face Second Division runners-up Al Wakrah in play-off for a berth in the top flight. Al Markhia already got relegated following their defeat to Al Duhail in Week 21.
On Saturday, it will be Al Sadd vs Al Kharaitiyat at Al Sadd Stadium and Al Duhail vs Al Sailiya at Al Duhail Stadium.
Sunday's fixtures will be Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli (Al Sadd Stadium), Al Khor vs Al Arabi (Al Khor Stadium), Umm Salal vs Al Markhiya (Al Ahli Stadium) and Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC (Al Gharafa Stadium).
Al-Marri undergoesligament surgery
Al Sailiya player Mohammed al-Marri successfully underwent a cruciate ligament surgery at Aspetar following an injury he sustained during their 0-1 loss to Umm Salal in Week 18 of the QNB Stars League. Al-Marri had been missing in action ever since and is likely to be so for several months. 'I thank the club management as well as medical and administrative staff, and my colleagues for standing by my side during this difficult period. I hope to make a quick return to the team, said al-Marri.
Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi is preparing the players for their QNB Stars League Week 22 game against new champions Al Duhail. The Peregrines will miss Romanian defender Dragos Gregor, who picked up a fourth yellow card during their 3-0 win over Al Ahli in Week 21.
Irrespective of the Al Duhail game result, Al Sailiya are assured of the sixth place in this season's QNB Stars League standings as they have 28 points, four more than seventh-placed Al Arabi.
Al Rayyan defeatAl Wakrah in friendly
Al Rayyan beat Second Division runners-up Al Wakrah 5-0 in a friendly played on Tuesday as part of preparations for their AFC Champions League match against Iran's Esteghlal in Tehran on Monday, 2nd April. Rodrigo Tabata (sixth minute), Abderrazaq Hamdallah (26th), Mohsine Moutaouli (27th) and Sebastian Soria (35th and 44th) scored the goals at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
The game enabled Danish coach Michael Laudrup to assess his players' readiness ahead of the crucial game against Esteghlal. On the other hand, Al Wakrah are seeking a return to the QNB Stars League as they take on 11th-placed side Al Kharaitiyat in play-off on 14th April. Al Rayyan will leave for Tehran on 1st April. They are currently second in Group D with six points behind Esteghlal, so The Lions will be keen to win the game and go top of the group. Al Ain are third with four points, followed by Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on two. Al Rayyan and Esteghlal had played out a 2-2 draw in the first round in Doha.
Al Khor, Al Ahlito clash on Saturday
As part of preparations for the QNB Stars League's final round, Al Khor and Al Ahli will play in a friendly at the latter's home ground on Saturday, 31st March. The kick-off is at 18:00. Al Khor's Tunisian coach Nassif al-Bayawi is keen to ensure his players' readiness before their Week 22 game against Al Arabi.
Similarly, Al Ahli, under Spaniard George Jorge, will look to make the most of the match before they face Al Rayyan in the last round.
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