Injuries, suspensions deplete Al Sadd

Doha: Al Sadd midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun will be out of action following a knee ligament injury he sustained during a training session ahead of their Emir’s Cup quarterfinal against Al Khor, scheduled for Thursday.

Hamroun, who will now undergo comprehensive medical tests to determine the extent of his injury, played a key role in Sadd finishing as runners-up in this season’s QNB Stars League with 49 points, 11 less than champions Al Duhail. Sadd will miss injured Ali Asad as well.

They will be without ace Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez and Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who both have been suspended by the Qatar Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee over the incidents during their Qatar Cup final, which they lost to Al Duhail last Friday.

While Xavi was handed a one-match suspension, Bounedjah will be out for two games.