QNB Stars League Week 18: Al-Sadd Ends Title Race, Battle for Top Four Goes On

Doha, March 09 (QNA) - The title race for QNB Stars League 2020/2021 has ended in its 18th week, Al-Sadd were crowned with their 15th title while Al-Kharaitiyat have come closer towards automatic relegation. Al-Sadd ended the title race just four weeks before the end of the competition after taking a much deserved win against Um Salal 3-0. This win is only a small feat for Al-Sadd during their spectacular season, as the team have not lost until now this season. Al-Sadd have won 16 matches and drawn in two collecting 50 points in 18 weeks, also being the best offensive team with 69 goals and the best defensive team only receiving 12 goals. Al-Sadd continued the path of success and glory under the leadership of Spanish Manager Xavi Hernandez, who started with his first league title in 2019-2020. Xavi was reliant on a star studded team most notably top scorer of this season Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif, Hassan Al-Haydos, Khokhi Boualem, Nam Tae-hee, Santi Cazorla, Abdelkarim Hasan, Guilherme Torres, Tarek Salma, Mishaal Barsham, Saad Al-Dossari, Rodrigo Tabata, Pedro Miguel, Salem Al-Hajri, Mohammed Waad, Yousef Abdulrazak and other members of the team. The 18th week of the league was very important for all the teams on the table. For some, it was the path towards the top four and for other teams it was survival from relegation, In the six matches of this week 15 goals were scored. This week saw Al-Duhail beat Al-Kharaitiyat 2-0, Al-Arabi beat Qatar SC 1-0, Al-Wakrah beat Sailiya 1-0, Al-Rayyan beat Al-Ahli 3-1, Al-Sadd beat Umm Salal 3-0 and finally Al-Gharafa beat Al-Khor 3-1. The final standings for this week are as follows: Al-Sadd 50 points, Al-Duhail 37 points, Al-Rayyan 31 points, Al-Gharafa jumped to fourth with 30 points, Qatar SC in fifth place with 28 points although losing to Al-Arabi who is in sixth place with 26 points, Al-Ahli in 7th with 26 points, Al-Sailiya in eighth with 23 points, Al-Wakrah in ninth with 18 points, Umm Salal in 10th place with 15 points after losing to Al-Sadd, Al-Khor only one point behind Umm Salal with 14 points and in last position Al-Kharaitiyat with 4 points. (QNA)