Lionel Messi’s toughest task as Barcelona face Bayern Munich PAGE 10 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 Penultimate QNB Stars League Weekend HE Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was elected as President of Umm Salal club by acclamation for the 2020-2024 term, along with HE Sheikh Tamim bin Mohammad Al Thani as Vice-President. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Thani elected as president of Umm Salal SC QNA that the club can get better in DOHA the next season. He wished success for the club during the THE Ordinary General As- coming period and for the new sembly of Umm Salal SC board of directors to achieve on Wednesday elected HE the ambitions and goals of Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ab- Umm Salal. dulrahman Al Thani as Presi- His Excellency thanked the dent of the club by acclama- Ministry of Culture and Sports tion for the 2020-2024 term, for the support of the club and along with HE Sheikh Tamim all the club’s employees for bin Mohammad Al Thani as their work in the past period Al Duhail, who are currently leading the QSL table with 46 points, during their training session at the club grounds on Thursday. Vice-President. and their constant endeavor to The General Assembly was upgrade the club. held at Barzan Youth Center After announcing his vic- amid precautionary and pre- tory by acclamation to head ventive measures in coopera- the club, HE Sheikh Dr. Ab- Falcon shield at stake as Al Duhail, tion between the Ministry of dulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Public Health and the Minis- Thani said, “We have the vi- try of Culture and Sports, and sion to build a sports commu- the quorum was completed nity inside the club, not just a with the presence of 44 out of football team, and there was Al Rayyan aim for crucial wins 57 members. a lengthy meeting with the The meeting was chaired age groups, and we have big by HE Sheikh Hamad bin dreams by developing a strate- AYENI OLUSEGUN don’t win, then maybe we don’t Nasser Al Thani, former club gy and action plan for the club DOHA Today’s Matches win the league. It’s like a final president, in the presence of to achieve our goals.” Umm Salal vs Al for us,” the Uruguayan said HE Sheikh Tamim bin Mo- His Excellency pointed SIX points left, Falcon Shield “The result between Al hammed Al Thani, Vice Presi- out that the club is looking is the price as Al Rayyan and Gharafa (at Al Janoub Sadd and Duhail last week was dent and Head of the football for investments to find other Al Duhail head into a decisive Stadium) 4pm perfect for us. I’m happy for team, Mohamed Salem Al sources of income, adding that penultimate weekend of the Tabata to score a crucial goal, Nuaimi, Executive Director Umm Salal will start some 2019-20 QNB Stars League Al Shahania vs Al which is very good for us. of Umm Salal, and Ibrahim investment projects that will season. We’ll be lucky to score Al Najjar, representative of benefit the club. He explained Leaders Al Duhail will Rayyan (at Al Janoub two goals, but sometimes one the Ministry of Culture and that the club currently focuses hope to put a demoralizing loss Stadium) 7.30pm goal is enough. We are in the Sports. on overcoming this difficult to Al Sadd last weekend behind right moment, and we need to At the beginning of the stage for the team and remain them when they take on lowly Al Duhail vs Al Khor play hard and try to win our meeting, HE Sheikh Hamad in the first division. Al Khor while Al Rayyan face (at Jassim Bin Hamad game, and then we see what bin Nasser Al Thani thanked HE Sheikh Tamim bin a tricky tie against bottom side happens after.” the members of the General Mohammad Al Thani wished Al Shahania who are yet to lose Stadium) 7.30pm Aguirre, in his second spell Assembly for attending and the club success in the next since the league restart. at the club, also highlighted the their keenness on the interest stage, expressing thanks to Chasing their seventh Leaders Al Duhail on 46 team’s progress this season. of the club. He said that the HE Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser league title, Al Duhail has lost Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre addresses the media on Thursday, points are just one point ahead “We had prepared well so club achieved good results in Al Thani for his efforts dur- two matches so far but has ahead of his team’s clash with Al Shahania. of second-placed Al Rayyan. far this season compared to last the past four years and was ing his presidency of the club. been far from their best. With At the Al Janoub Stadium, season when the club finished close to entering the top four He wished HE Sheikh Dr. Ab- Rui Faria’s departure after stalwart Assim madibo, who Sadd in the last round, even The Lions will face a different 20 points behind the winners. in the league, but this season dulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al the Qatar Cup and Walid Re- only recently returned from a though we failed to get any Al Shahania side under new This season we have lost just the team went through diffi- Thani success in leading the gragui’s appointment later, long term injury. point from that game. Al Khor coach Nabil Anwar. one game and remember some cult circumstances, stressing club to achieve its goals. the Red Knights have strug- Despite losing to reigning will not be easy but the advan- Diego Aguirre knows his players joined this year. We gled for goals so far with just champions Al Sadd, who still tage we have is that we still side can still win the league for drew some games initially as 36 goals despite boasting the have an outside chance to win control our fate and win the the first time since 2016 if they we were building the team, but likes of Almoez Ali, Moham- the league, Regragui says a next two matches to win the pick maximum points from now we have improved a lot. If QNB Stars League Standings (Top 5) med Muntari, Yousef Msekni win against Al Khor would set league. I have told the players the next two matches. we win the title, it will be amaz- Pos Club M W L D GF GA GD Pts and Kwang Han Song in the the tone for the club, no mat- this already,” Regragui said. “For sure, Al Shahania will ing and perfect, and we will 1 Al Duhail 20 14 2 4 36 16 20 46 attack. Though the defence ter Al Rayyan’s result. “Asim Madibo is injured be very difficult, especially due keep fighting,” he added. 2 Al Rayyan 20 13 1 6 37 15 22 45 has held steady under Mehdi “We must beat Al Khor. again but we are not looking for to their current situation. I’m Also on Friday, Al Gharafa 3 Al Sadd 21 14 5 2 50 28 22 44 Benatia’s leadership, they have We hope to remain in high excuses. I have confidence in the sure they will play and give eve- will cement fourth place with a 4 Al Gharafa 20 9 6 5 32 28 4 32 suffered injuries to Bassam al spirits as we did in all previous players who are ready to take rything. Our last chance for the win over Umm Salal at the Al 5 Al Sailiya 21 8 9 4 22 25 -3 28 Rawi in defence and midfield matches, especially against Al the field,” the Moroccan added. league is in this game, and if we Janoub Stadium. Bounedjah ends goal drought as Al Sadd pip Qatar SC day, Cristian Ceballos net- Bounedjah headed in a Rod- scored the all-important goal Al Sailiya and ted a 74th-minute penalty rigo Tabata corner kick from Results in the 47th minute. to heap more misery on Al the left. Al Sailiya had goalkeeper Al Wakrah also Ahli as Al Wakrah edged the Al Wakrah defeated a Al Sailiya 1 Amine Lecomte, on loan from 10-man Brigadiers by a lone hapless Al Ahli 1-0 thanks to (Mohammad Abu Zrauq league leaders Al Duhail, to post wins goal. At the same time, Al Cristian Ceballos’ penalty in thank especially, for his rich Arabi dropped to seventh af- the 74th minute, handing an 47’) Al Arabi 0 experience and expertise. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ter a disappointing 1-0 loss 11th league defeat to Ahli this Al Sadd 1 (Baghdad Al Arabi sorely missed the DOHA against Al Sailiya in the early season. services of Pierre-Michel La- kickoff. Al Ahli had to play with Bounedjah 90+8’) sogga, and his strike partner BAGHDAD Bounedjah’s inju- Without the injured Akram one man less, half of the Qatar SC 0 Hamdi Harbaoui had a some- ry-time header ensured Al Sadd Afif, Al Sadd’s attack failed match as Ahmed Akaichi re- what subdued game. kept up the pressure on the top to live up to the mark despite ceived his second yellow card Al Ahli 0 Al Wakrah 1 Al Sailiya scored not two teams as the Lions pipped dominating proceedings. and marching orders after he long after the resumption a resilient Qatar Sports Club by Bounedjah first tested Qa- fouled Al Wakrah’s Ousmane (Cristian Ceballos 74’ pen) through Abuzraik, who, af- a lone goal at the Jassim Bin tar SC goalkeeper Motasem Coulibaly in the 45th minute.