Doha: Defending champions Lekhwiya will look to fire on all cylinders when they take on Al Gharafa in a crunch Qatar Stars League (QSL) match today at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Doha.

The coach Djamel Belmadi’s players are desperate to take full points to get back on track after they suffered back-to-back defeats in their previous two matches.

“We are here like our previous season to win the league” said Belmadi at a pre-match press conference in Doha yesterday before counting Al Gharafa as tough opponents .

“Gharafa have brought in big players like Shekawi Dioko this season. It’s clear that they have a big ambition. We are in a tough situation at the moment. We have suffered back to back losses. But so have they. Both teams need points need to win. It’s more or less the same situation for both the teams” he said.

“To have two defeats overall we cannot accept this. We are not happy and we will try to comeback quickly. We have to make the reaction which we didn’t make against Jaish. I don’t believe we need a dramatic change in our tactics. We have been playing with this for quite a while now and it has delivered the results. While I as the coach assume complete responsibility I am also waiting for a reaction from my players. And I am sure they will do so in this game.”

Al Gharaffa on the other hand are also seeking a victory after receiving the same fate in their last couple of matches.

In round 5 Gharafa where comprehensively beaten by El Jaish 4-1 and the cheetahs lost to Al Wakrah 2-1 in round 6.

However Pericles Chamusca’s team will count themselves unlucky not to have grabbed a point having conceded a last gasp penalty in the match against Wakrah.

“You know that both teams are looking for victories after two consecutive defeats. Lekhwiya have a strong team just like last season” Chamusca told reporters yesterday.

“ They have the same squad. They have good attacking players like Mohamed Rezaq and Msakni. They have a good winger in Weiss. And their defence is not only strong but also attack minded with players like Mohamed Musa” he said.

“I have prepared my team in order to reduce spaces for this team - to get as compact as possible when playing against Lekhwiya. And also Gharafa have good strikers like Shekwali Dioko and other players with good quality. We have to focus on reducing their chances” he added. A victory for Gharafa will see them leap over Lekhwiya and Umm Salal to fifth place in the QSL. Midfielder Lawrence Quaye will be a key man for the Cheetahs; the former Qatari national has been playing well for Gharafa recently having scored last time out against Al Wakrah.

Lekhwiya are also going into this match on a run of two consecutive defeats.

In round 5 they stumbled in an entertaining match against Al Arabi and also lost to a professional El Jaish side 2-0 in the round 6 derby.

A win for Lekhwiya will see them jump into fourth position in the league which is a minimum requirement for the side this season. If the Cops did slip to a defeat however it would lead to an unprecedented third defeat in the league leaving them nine points off the pace from leaders Al Rayyan.

Lekhwiya will be counting on midfielder Yussef Msakni the Tunisian midfielder has often been deployed as a striker this season and is currently third in the goal scoring charts with six

With both sides looking for the win to break their losing streaks it promises to be an interesting tie between Gharafa and Lekhwiya.

THE PENINSULA