Al Duhail: Another disappointment for Djamel Belmadi | OneFootball

Al Duhail and Djamel Belmadi stumble again

Al Duhail: Another disappointment for Djamel Belmadi

The highlight of the sixth round in the Qatar Stars League between Al Duhail and Al Sadd ended in a goalless draw, a result that perfectly mirrored the nature of the contest. Both teams quickly locked down the spaces, each wary of conceding the opening blow in a league where every point is crucial. The best chance of the first half came from a moment of brilliance by Akram Afif, who attempted a lob from midfield, only for an Al Duhail defender to clear off the line. After the break, the intensity remained high but risk-taking was kept to a minimum. The point shared leaves Al Duhail in fifth place with eight points, while Al Sadd trail just behind in sixth, also on eight points.

Belmadi progressing step by step

Djamel Belmadi's side now presents a much more structured look off the ball. The defensive block shifts more cohesively, the flanks are well protected, and pressing is triggered at more predictable heights. This consolidation partly explains the string of matches that have been defensively solid but lacking in clear-cut chances. The team’s hesitancy in the final third remains the main obstacle—more structural than circumstantial—stemming both from the quality of their opponents and the ongoing adjustment phase. It would be excessive to ring the alarm bells just yet. The game plan is progressing step by step, with a stabilizing hierarchy and recurring principles, notably quick vertical transitions after regaining possession and exploiting switches to the weak side. In this context, a 0-0 draw against a local powerhouse like Al Sadd feels less like a setback and more like an anticipated stage in the team’s fine-tuning process.