There is no doubt: Al Sadd continues to be the best team in Qatar. The departure of Xavi Hernández and a large part of his coaching staff to FC Barcelona did not affect the dynamics of the team, which continues to be a roller under the mandate of Javier Grace. This Monday, those from Doha ‘crushed’ (2-8) José Pozo’s Al Ahli and proclaimed themselves Qatar Stars League champions (Qatar First Division) for the 16th time in its history.
Akram Afif, Al Haydos, Khoukhi, Santi Cazorla, Bounedjah, Youssef Abdel and Ayew, the latter twice, scored in what was an attacking display by Al Sadd, who saw the game go downhill after Al Ahli went down to 10 in the 25th minute of the first half. The team led by Javi Gracia has a pending match, but they are already celebrating the championship because they are 12 points ahead of their closest rival and closest rival, Al Duhail.
After winning the Qatar Stars League, Al Sadd remembered Xavi Hernández, who was the one who led the team during the first nine days of the league. After he left for FC Barcelona, Javi Gracia took over the reins and his record as coach in Qatar is unbeatable: he has achieved plenty of victories with a balance of 37 goals in favor and only six against. In addition, he qualified the team for the quarterfinals of the Emir Cup after defeating Pepe Murcia’s Al Muaidar by the minimum.
Al Sadd, who finished undefeated in the last edition of the Qatar Stars League, is just four games away from achieving something unprecedented. At the beginning of February, the team led by Javi Gracia broke the record for games without losing (42) in the Qatar Stars League and, in addition to revalidating the Emir Cup title, has the group stage of the AFC Champions Leaguewhere Al Faisaly (Saudi Arabia), Al Wehdat (Jordan) and the champion of the confrontation between Baniyas (United Arab Emirates) and Nasaf Qarshi (Uzbekistan) will be measured in April.
Cazorla, impeccable career
If you have to highlight an Al Sadd player, that is Santi Cazorla. Although he has not improved his records from the season of his debut in Qatar, the Spaniard, who turned 37 last December, continues to be the metronome of a team with which he has already won six titles. Since his debut in the summer of 2020, Cazorla has lifted two Qatar Stars League, two Emir Cup, one Qatar Cup and one Ooredoo Cup. In addition, he was named the league’s MVP in 2021. A few years ago he was told to be satisfied if he played with his children in the garden again. Tremendous.