Defending Qatar Stars League champion Lekhwiya will face a tricky start to its 2011-2012 QSL season with an opening day match at the against Al Wakra Sports Club. Not only that, another away clash against Abdulla Mubarak’s Al Ahli will follow up after that. Djamel Belmadi’s (Lekhwiya coach) men then returns home to face QSL debutant Al Jaish before another big test in the form of Al Gharaffa, and Al Khor, which will only be their fifth match of the season. Indeed, it will be a daunting start to its season.
The first match for Lekhwiya will be on September 16 at the Al Wakra SC.
Even Al Gharafa will be having some sort of a tough start to its campaign with an opening day fixture at home against Qatar Sports Club, followed by difficult clashes against Al Khor and Al Arabi. Although they will return home with two corresponding matches against defending, champion Lekhwiya and less fancied Al Kharaitiyath on the list. However, the demanding round of opening fixtures will not help the fact that Gharafa will also have to monitor its way past the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Their performances will set the benchmark for the rest of the season.
Gharafa’s first match will be home at the Gharafa Stadium against Qatar SC on September 16. The following week they face a serious test as they travel to Al Khor.
As far as Al Rayyan is concerned, it will open its season with a tough away trip to Gerard Gil’s Umm Salal. Following that, they return home to host Al Kharaitiyath before traveling to Al Khor. After the international break, Rayyan will have to work themselves out of a tricky tie against Al Ahli before they get ready to host Al Wakra.
Their first serious test will however be the following week as they travel to Doha to face Al Arabil. They face three tough home fixtures in November when they host Gharaffa, Al Jaish and then Al Sadd.
Al Arabi appear to have the easiest of opening round of fixtures and perhaps only their opening game represents a difficult challenge by their standards before the international break. They face Al Khor away from home first before taking on the likes of Wakra and mighty Gharaffa at its home ground. After the international bridge, Arabi will have to visit Umm Salal, before visiting Sadd Stadium to take on Al Sadd Sports Club.
Round 1 Fixtures
16/09/2011
Al-Gharrafa - Qatar SC
Al-Ahli - Al-Arabi
Al-Wakra - Lekhwiya
Umm-Salal - Al-Rayyan
18/09/2011
Al-Sadd - Al-Kharitiyath
Al-Jaish - Al-Khor
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