Top coaches Xavi, Blanc set for points battle
23 Dec 2020 - 9:37
Fawad Hussain/ The Peninsula
Doha giants Al Sadd and former champions Al Rayyan clash in QNB Stars League (QSL) tie today - dubbed the Qatar Clasico - with the key match also bringing two big names of world football head-to-head.
Today’s Round 10 clash at Al Sadd Stadium marks Qatar debut for prominent French coach Laurent Blanc, who joined Al Rayyan earlier this week. The former PSG coach’s first challenge is to topple newly-crowned Amir Cup champions Al Sadd, coached by Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez.
Last year’s runners-up Al Rayyan have started the season poorly by their standards, standing at sixth on the points table with 13 points from three victories, four draws and two defeats.
21 Dec 2020 - 9:46
Blanc poses for a group photo with Al Rayyan s U-23 team.
Fawad Hussain/ The Peninsula
Popular coach Laurent Blanc’s immediate task in Qatar is to put Al Rayyan’s QNB Stars League (QSL) campaign back on track. But the 1998 World Cup winner faces a stiff challenge in his first game as Al Rayyan confront an in-form Al Sadd side coached by Xavi this Wednesday.
Dubbed the Qatar Clasico, both the Qatar football giants will clash in their QSL’s Round 10 clash at Al Sadd Stadium on Wednesday with Al Rayyan hoping for a turnaround in their performance.