Teams have stepped up their preparations in anticipation of a solid showing in the second half of the season as the QNB Stars League (QSL) is ready to return early next month.
After a lengthy hiatus while Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup from November 20 to December 18, the QSL will restart on January 4.
Until September 14 there were seven rounds played, and Al Arabi, coached by Younes Ali, came out on top with 16 points from five victories and a draw.
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Most of the players, who missed the first seven QSL rounds due to their commitment with Qatar team preparing for the World Cup, will continue to be with the Al Annabi squad that will take part in the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup to be held in Basra, Iraq, from January 6 to 19, 2023.
However, the Al Annabi players, who were rested after their World Cup campaign, are expected to be seen in action when the QSL resumes. These include Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb and defender Pedro Miguel besides Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali.
However, defending champions Al Sadd, who are nine points behinds leaders Al Arabi, will still miss 11 of their players, who will take part in the Gulf Cup.
These include goalkeeper Meshaal Barshim, Youssef Abdullah, Tarek Salman, Faisal Abdullah, Abdullah Al Yazidi, Ali Asad, Mustafa Meshaal, Muhammad Waad, Youssef Abdurisag, Salem Al Hajri and Hashim Ali.
Al Duhail, third on the points table with 14 points, will resume action against fourth-placed Al Gharafa at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on January 4. They will be without Ismaeel Mohammed, Shehab El Laithi, Muhammad Ayash, Diab Haroun, Assim Madibo, Muhammed Muntari and Abdulrahman Fahmy, who will travel to Basra for the Gulf Cup.
Umm Salal, 10th in the standing with seven points will meet Al Markhiya, who are placed eighth on the table while Al Sadd will take on Qatar SC the same day.
Al Arabi will return to action with a match against Al Al Ahli on January 5 at Grand Hamad Stadium.
Al Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez in a recent interview to QNA said his team will fight for the title after earning 15 points from seven games to stay second. The Blue Waves will square off with Al Shamal the same day. Bottom-placed Al Rayyan face the biggest challenge as they look for turnaround after the nightmarish start that saw them losing six games, only earning one point from a draw.
The former champions will meet Al Sailiya in their eighth round clash in another match on January 5.
