Reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan take on newly promoted Al Shahania in the first match of the QSL for both teams. The match will be played at the Al Sadd stadium today.
Al Rayyan will be looking to bounce back after their Sheikh Jassim Cup defeat to Lekhwiya. The Lions will be ready to defend their title against minnows Al Shahania.
Jorge Fossati, the head coach of Rayyan, is not underestimating his newly-promoted opponents, “We start the league against a newly-promoted team with many new players. We know about the calibre of their coach and we respect them a lot. We need to be ready to face a tough opponent and we need to be ready to display our best football.”
Fossati believes his team has learned their lesson from their defeat to Lekhwiya, “Lekhwiya is one of the best teams in the region. Many of their players play in the national team and there is nothing strange in the fact that Lekhwiya can beat Rayyan. It was our first game and we had some mistakes but we have learned from them.”
Shahania is one of the two sides to be promoted to the QSL this season from the Qatar Gas League. Their main objective this season will be to avoid relegation to the Qatar Gas League.
Fathi Jabbal, head coach of Shahania, is excited about the start of the QSL, “We are excited for the start of the league. We prepared very well and unfortunately the first match is against Al Rayyan. It’s a team we respect a lot but we are focused on our team. We will not be easily beaten.”
“There are no excuses in football, only hard work. I have full confidence in our players. We have a good group of players who they want to do something positive in the league,” added the Tunisian tactician.
This season will see four teams drop down to the Qatar Gas League and Jabbal is relying on the fighting spirit of his team, “We know four teams will be relegated. So we have to fight to stay in the league and we will fight for the first ten spots.”

LEKHWIYA VS MUAITHER
Lekhwiya take on newly promoted Muaither in the first match of the QSL season for both teams. This match, which will be held at the Lekhwiya stadium, is the second match of today.
Lekhwiya who are fresh off a win against Rayyan in the Sheikh Jassim Cup will be looking to continue their winning start of the football season with a victory against Muaither.
Djamel Belmadi, the head coach of Lekhwiya is looking forward to a tough season ahead, “Four teams will be relegated this season which means that the league will be very tough. There will no small games and big games all the matches will be difficult and we will prepare ourselves.”
“Muaither is a good team coming from the second division. They have signed new players and we as Lekhwiya we will use our tools and our experience to face such teams,” added the Algerian head coach at pre-match press conference.
Muaither return to the QSL for a second stint after winning the Qatar Gas League. Phillip Birol, head coach of Muaither, wants his team to give Lekhwiya a tough time, “We are ready to begin the league against a big favorite for the QSL. We want to give a tough time to them and if they are better than us we will see on the day.”
“It will be a big achievement if we stay in the league and we know that all the teams that come from the second league have a huge difficulty to stay up. Last year only two clubs got relegated but this year is four so it will be a very tough season for us.”