Coach Sebastiao Lazaroni is hoping Qatar Sports Club can take advantage of Al Sadd’s mixed run of results when the teams face today.   
But Lazaroni still expects a difficult match against Sadd, who lost on penalties to United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira in an AFC Champions League qualifier earlier in the week. “We are still fighting to avoid relegation,” Lazaroni told the media at the pre-match press conference.
“We go into this game with no alternative but to win, but at the same time we have to be very cautious. Al Sadd is a team in a transitional phase but they have plenty of young and talented players. They played in the Champions League this week, so that shows they are a big team with quality players.”   
Lazaroni’s men go into the home game on the back of morale-boosting draws against Al Arabi and Umm Salal, and the Brazilian is confident his men can keep the momentum going as they aim to close the seven-point gap between them and Al Kharaitiyat, who currently sit in 12th place.   
Lazaroni said: “The players are doing their best in training. We now need to take our performances in training into the matches. The team has become more solid in recent weeks and our spirit is good. We managed a very positive result against Umm Salal after being two goals down. Now we need to take the initiative and score first, rather than waiting to react.” 
Al Sadd, on the other hand, have struggled to find any consistency since Jesualdo Ferreira took over as head coach. A victory over runaway leaders Al Rayyan apart, it’s been a difficult start under the Portuguese. Sadd are currently fifth and need at least a draw against Qatar Sports Club to move back into the top four.   
Ferreira said: “This will be a tough game. Every QSL side plays with huge spirit against Al Sadd. Simple mistakes have cost us in recent weeks and we’ll need to cut those out in order to get the three points.”   
Ferreira was buoyed by his side’s performance in the UAE earlier in the week. Sadd came within inches of qualifying for the group stages but were finally defeated on penalties after the game finished 2-2 in normal time.   
“I hope we play like we did against Al Jazira. I was pleased with the performance and we need to show that form in the league.   
“Since I arrived we have played against some very enthusiastic teams and only produced average performances. We showed a lot of spirit against Al Rayyan, but since then we have been unlucky.  
“When I arrived there was a huge difference between us and Al Rayyan, but I now know what this squad is capable of. I believe I am coaching the strongest team in Qatar.