(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Fawad Hussain/ The Peninsula
Popular coach Laurent Blanc's immediate task in Qatar is to put Al Rayyan's QNB Stars League (QSL) campaign back on track. But the 1998 World Cup winner faces a stiff challenge in his first game as Al Rayyan confront an in-form Al Sadd side coached by Xavi this Wednesday.
Dubbed the Qatar Clasico, both the Qatar football giants will clash in their QSL's Round 10 clash at Al Sadd Stadium on Wednesday with Al Rayyan hoping for a turnaround in their performance.
Ahead of the game, former PSG coach Blanc - whose 18-month contract with Al Rayyan was announced on Saturday - met Al Rayyan's first and U-23 teams yesterday besides supervising training sessions.
Last season's runners-up Al Rayyan, are struggling this season and are currently sixth in the points standings with 13 points.
Coach Laurent Blanc speaks with Al Rayyan star Yacine Brahimi during his meeting with the team ahead of the match against Al Sadd
Blanc, who has succeeded Diego Aguirre after the Uruguayan quit to join his family, faces an impeccable Al Sadd, who clinched the Amir Cup after defeating Al Arabi 2-1 on Friday.
The Wolves are leading the QSL points standing with 25 points and are the only unbeaten side this season.
While Al Sadd possess players performing consistently like Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Hassan Al Haydous, Akram Afif and Baghdad Bounedjah, Blanc can bank on quality players like goalkeeper Fahad Younis, Mohammed Alaaeldin, Franck Kom, Dame Traore, Yacine Brahimi, Abdulaziz Hatem and Yohan Boli.
'I will work with the players who are currently trying return the team to top of the (QSL) points table, Blanc was quoted as saying in a tweet posted on the club's Twitter handle.
The eagerly-awaited match will kick off at 6:30pm.
Meanwhile, QSL's Round 10 will also bring more exciting games.
Al Ahli, who have been impressive this week will be hoping to retain their second place with a win over fourth-placed Qatar SC.
Wednesday's other match include a game between Al Kharaitiyat and Al Arabi.
Reigning champions Al Duhail ranked 5th with 15 points - will be eyeing full points against Al Khor in the week's opening fixture tomorrow.
Al Sailiya and Umm Salal will square off while Al Gharafa and Al Wakrah meet in tomorrow's other games.
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