Three Electric Days Reignite Qatar's Premier League
19 November 2025
Day 1
Life returns to the Qatar Stars League for the tenth round, spread over three days with two matches per day, kicking off the day after tomorrow Friday with Duhail facing Al-Ahli and Al-Gharafa hosting Al-Wakrah.
The Saturday slate features Um Salal against Al-Rayyan and Al-Sadd against Al-Sailiya, with Sunday wrapping up the week having North (Al-Shamal) vs Shahania and Qatar vs Al-Arabi.
Day 1
The clash between Al-Gharafa and their guests Al-Wakrah is set for Friday evening at Thani bin Jassim Stadium. Both sides have delivered strong forms lately, keeping the title race competitive.
Al-Gharafa sit top of the table on 22 points, earned through seven wins, one draw, and one loss. Al-Wakrah sits fifth with 15 points from four wins, three draws, and two defeats, and the last round saw Al-Gharafa beat Qatar 2-1 while Wakrah drew 2-2 with North.
Gharafa will be without key men, notably Joselu who is sidelined with injury, and Korean defender Kang Hyun-soo who was shown a red card in the previous match.
Meanwhile, Duhail will meet Al-Ahli at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Friday. Expect plenty of intensity and competitiveness given the teams' positions in the standings.
Duhail sit eighth with 12 points, while Al-Ahli are ninth on 9 points. The squad sheet features players who could swing the balance in favor of the red-and-black, including Krzystof Piątek and Edmilson Júnior, with youth to come from the wings.
The pairing of Omar Seko and Julian Draxler gives Al-Ahli hope of breaching the storm that is Duhail, aiming for a fourth win of the campaign but finding a tough opponent in the form of a team keen to rebound.
Day 2
On Saturday, Al-Sadd host Al-Sailiya at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Al-Sadd sit sixth with 14 points (four wins, two draws, three defeats), while Al-Sailiya occupy tenth with seven points (two wins, one draw, six defeats). The fixture presents a chance for both sides to shake up the table and chase important points.
Al-Sadd have appointed Italian coach Roberto Mancini, who took the helm recently and will be eager to announce a strong start. Al-Sailiya, led by national coach Mirghani Al-Zein, will look to spoil the party and push for a much-needed positive result.
Also on Saturday, Um Salal vs Al-Rayyan takes center stage at Al Khor Stadium, with both clubs aiming to secure precious points in a critical stretch of the campaign. Um Salal sit 11th with six points, while Al-Rayyan sit fourth with 16 points and will be keen to maintain momentum.
Day 3
Sunday sees North vs Shahania at the North's home ground. North sit second on 18 points, four behind leaders Al-Gharafa, while Shahania are 12th with four points. The match could shape the lower end of the table as the season nears its midpoint.
North drew 2-2 with Al-Wakrah in the previous round, while Shahania were defeated 1-5 by Al-Rayyan, leaving both teams desperate for a better showing.
The weekend’s final act is Qatar vs Al-Arabi at Sahem bin Hamad Stadium. Qatar stand third on 17 points, while Al-Arabi sit seventh with 13 points but have shown form in recent weeks under their Romanian coach Cosmin Contra, seeking a fourth consecutive win. Qatar will look to extend their advantage and press the leaders further.
In sum, the tenth round promises plenty of action as top teams bid to assert, mid-table clubs chase vital points, and the league’s return injects excitement into every matchday.
Punchline time: If football were a steak, this weekend would be a Michelin three-course. And if you misplace the ball, don’t worry—the ball has its own GPS these days.
Final wink: My fantasy team is so optimistic it signs players who aren’t even born yet. “Drafted: future stars, current drama, and a lot of coffee.”
