DOHA : Al Sailiya SC face Umm Salal SC in a key relegation clash in the 16th round of the Doha Bank Stars League on Friday at Hamad Al Kabir Stadium.
Both sides are battling near the bottom of the standings. Umm Salal sit second from bottom in 11th place on 12 points, one ahead of Al-Shahaniya, while Al Sailiya are ninth with 15 points, level with 10th-placed Al-Ahli.
Victory for Al Sailiya would lift them to 18 points and open a six-point gap over Umm Salal, easing their relegation concerns. A win for Umm Salal would see them draw level on points with Al Sailiya and drag their rivals deeper into the survival fight.
Both teams come into the match on the back of wins in the previous round. Pre-match comments from the two coaches reflected a cautious approach, with each side targeting all three points. While a draw may suit Al Sailiya more, it would represent a missed opportunity for Umm Salal to close the gap.
The match will be officiated by referee Abdulhadi Al-Ruwaili, assisted by Talib Al-Marri and Faisal Al-Yafai, with Mohammed Al-Dosari as fourth official. Mohammed Al-Sharif will serve as VAR referee, assisted by Zahi Al-Shammari.
