Al Sadd dominated Al-Rayyan SC 5-1 in a stunning display at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on October 30, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the Stars League season. After a string of disappointing performances, Al Sadd turned the tide with their emphatic victory, propelling them to a much-needed resurgence.
The match began with an electric atmosphere, and it didn't take long for Roberto Firmino to make his mark. In the 11th minute, he found the back of the net, giving Al Sadd an early lead. Firmino's goal set the tone for the match and lifted the spirits of a team that had previously struggled to find form.
Just as Al-Rayyan SC began to find their footing, the match turned dramatically when Gregore received a red card in the 19th minute. This early dismissal left Al-Rayyan with ten men and changed the dynamics of the game. Despite being a man down, they fought hard and earned a penalty just before halftime when Róger Guedes stepped up to take the kick, converting it in the 37th minute to level the score at 1-1. It seemed like Al-Rayyan might be able to hold on, but fate had other plans.
As the first half drew to a close, Boualem Khoukhi scored for Al Sadd in extra time (45+10'), restoring their lead just before the break. The goal proved to be a significant blow for Al-Rayyan, who had worked hard to equalize.
The second half saw Al Sadd extend their advantage further. Just seven minutes in, Akram Afif scored to make it 3-1 in the 52nd minute, illustrating Al Sadd's renewed attacking intent. Shortly thereafter, Firmino struck again, scoring his second goal in the 55th minute to push the tally to 4-1. The match seemed to be slipping away from Al-Rayyan, who struggled to recover after their promising start.
A couple of critical moments unfolded later in the match. Al Rayyan's Abdulaziz Hatem received a red card in the 90th minute, leaving his team with only nine players on the field. This further emphasized Al Sadd's dominance in the match. In the 74th minute, Al Sadd was awarded a penalty, but the identity of the scorer remains unknown-an incident that contributed to the confusion and frustration for Al-Rayyan, who were reeling from the onslaught.
With this result, Al Sadd moves up the standings, sitting at 8 points and now appears to have regained some confidence following their recent struggles. Conversely, Al-Rayyan SC, despite this setback, remains in fourth place with 13 points. However, the loss raises concerns about their ability to maintain their strong start to the season, especially after facing a challenging defeat against a rival.
Reflecting on the match predictions, it's humorous to note that while I anticipated a close contest, the all-around performance from Al Sadd was nothing short of a revelation. They not only met expectations but exceeded them by an impressive margin. This match certainly shakes up the narrative for both teams in the league.
Looking ahead, Al Sadd will travel to play UMM Salal on November 8, where they will aim to build on this momentum. For Al-Rayyan SC, the upcoming fixture against Al Shahaniya on November 9 will be a crucial test to see if they can bounce back from this heavy defeat and re-establish their confidence in the league. With rivalries as fierce as this one, the stakes will surely remain high as teams vie for a position in the standings.