Stars League · Matchday 9 
Our pick Home win Missed
Al Sadd and Al-Rayyan level at the top in Doha showdown
Al Sadd and Al-Rayyan SC are level on 18 points after eight matches, with goal difference separating first from second. Their latest meeting finished 1-1, while both arrive in strong form.
📍 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
Preview written:
All Matchday 9 matches Full head-to-head
Match report
Final result: Al Sadd 3-4 Al-Rayyan SC.
Match statistics (home team first). Shots: 13–8; Shots on target: 5–6; Corners: 7–1; Expected goals: 1.97–1.54.
Goals
- 10' Ahmed Alaaeldin · Al-Rayyan SC
- 13' Otávio · Gabriel Pereira · Al-Rayyan SC
- 21' Roberto Firmino · Giovani Henrique Amorim da Silva · Al Sadd
- 22' Róger Guedes · Gabriel Pereira · Al-Rayyan SC
- 28' Ahmed Alaaeldin · Ahmed Al Minhali · Al-Rayyan SC
- 42' Giovani Henrique Amorim da Silva · Tarek Salman · Al Sadd
- 67' Akram Afif · Al Sadd
Cards
- 2' Hassan Al-Haydos · Al Sadd
- 45+3' Jassem Gaber · Al-Rayyan SC
- 52' Ahmed Al Minhali · Al-Rayyan SC
- 54' Tarek Salman · Al Sadd
- 68' Ahmed Alaaeldin · Al-Rayyan SC
- 90+8' Paulo Otávio · Al Sadd
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: Ahmed Alaa Eldin (Al-Rayyan SC) 8.7
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Al Sadd · 4-2-3-1
- 22Meshaal BarshamG
- 2Pedro MiguelD
- 5Tarek SalmanD
- 16Boualem KhoukhiD
- 6Paulo OtávioD
- 14Mostafa MeshaalM
- 7Mohammed WaadM
- 11GiovaniM
- 10Hassan Al HaydosM
- 30Akram AfifM
- 9Roberto FirminoF
Coach: R. Lucescu
Al-Rayyan SC · 4-1-4-1
- 57Mahmud AbunadaG
- 8Jassem GaberD
- 13André AmaroD
- 5David GarcíaD
- 12Ahmed Al MinhaliD
- 31D. AmaroM
- 11Gabriel PereiraM
- 40GregoreM
- 25OtávioM
- 10Róger GuedesM
- 30Ahmed Alaa EldinF
Coach: Vicente Moreno
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Al Sadd | 3.9 | 1.8 |
| Al-Rayyan SC | 2.0 | 0.4 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Sadd | 8 | +17 | 18 |
| 2 | Al-Rayyan SC | 8 | +13 | 18 |
Last meetings
- 2026 Al-Rayyan SC 1-1 Al Sadd
- 2025 Al-Rayyan SC 5-3 Al Sadd
- 2025 Al Sadd 5-1 Al-Rayyan SC
- 2025 Al-Rayyan SC 1-2 Al Sadd
- 2024 Al Sadd 2-1 Al-Rayyan SC
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.96 – 1.95
- Double chance
- 12 · 77%1X 62% · X2 61%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 75%Over 1.5: 91% · Over 3.5: 55%
- Both teams score
- 75%
- Clean sheet
- 14% – 14%Al Sadd–Al-Rayyan SC
- Half-time result
- X · 34%1 33% · 2 33%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 24%2/2 24% · X/1 12%
- Expected corners
- 9.44.7 – 4.7 · Over 9.5: 46%
- Expected cards
- 3.82.0 – 1.8 · Over 3.5: 53%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
First place on the line
The most recent meeting between Al-Rayyan SC and Al Sadd ended 1-1 in the Stars League in April. Now the sides meet again with the league’s top two places occupied by these same rivals: both have 18 points from eight matches, and Al Sadd sit first, one place above second-placed Al-Rayyan on goal difference or other tie-breakers. The gap is therefore no points at all, making this a direct contest for the lead.
Al Sadd’s goal difference is +17, compared with Al-Rayyan’s +13. With the season still in its early stages, a win would give either side a valuable advantage over a close rival.
Contrasting routes into the match
Al Sadd have won their last two league matches and have three victories in their last five, alongside two defeats. They have scored 18 goals and conceded 10 across those five games. Overall, they have six wins and two defeats in eight league outings, with 31 goals scored.
Al-Rayyan are unbeaten in eight league matches, having collected five wins and three draws. Their last five brought three wins and two draws, with 12 goals scored and just one conceded. Their defensive record stands out: only three goals against in eight matches, alongside five clean sheets. Away from home, they have three wins and two draws from five games.
A lively recent rivalry
Al Sadd have the edge across the last five meetings, with three wins to Al-Rayyan’s one, plus a draw. The sequence includes a 5-1 Al Sadd victory in the league and a 5-3 Al-Rayyan win in the QSL Cup. The latest league encounter was far tighter, ending 1-1.
Attacking intent meets defensive steel
Al Sadd’s 31 goals in eight league matches point to a potent attack, though they have conceded 14 and are yet to keep a clean sheet at home. Al-Rayyan’s balance is markedly different: 16 goals scored, only three conceded, and five clean sheets. Their resilience will be tested by the league leaders’ scoring output, while Al Sadd must find a way through a defence that has been difficult to breach.
Our prediction
The standings and recent form suggest a finely balanced contest, but Al Sadd’s home setting and greater scoring output offer a narrow edge. Al-Rayyan’s defensive record should keep the visitors firmly in the game, with the model also leaning slightly toward the home side.
Al Sadd 2-1 Al-Rayyan SC
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