Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament.
All four teams in Group A are level on points after the opening matchday, with Al-Ahmar coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw versus Kuwait and Qatar letting an early slip away against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), winding up with the same result.
Match preview
Oman showed their resilience on matchday one, levelling their match against the hosts eight minutes after going behind, registering just one effort on target in 90 minutes.
The runners-up at this event in 2023 have earned a positive result in three of their previous four competitive fixtures, suffering just one defeat over that stretch (1-0 against Iraq).
Rashid Jaber's men have conceded a goal or fewer in each of their last four games across all competitions but have not scored more than once in any of those matches.
They have collected at least a point in four consecutive Gulf Cup group contests, with their last defeat in this phase of the competition occurring in December 2019 (3-1 to Saudi Arabia).
Only once in 2024 did Samba Al-Khaleej beat a side currently above them in the FIFA rankings, claiming a narrow 1-0 triumph over the UAE in early January.
Al-Ahmar have won six consecutive matches in all competitions after netting the opening goal, suffering just one defeat all year when doing so (2-1 against Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup).
Over the past few months, we have seen some uncharacteristic results for Qatar, who have won just one of their previous four competitive games since mid-October (3-2 over Uzbekistan).
The reigning two-time Asian Cup champions are in danger of going winless in three straight international fixtures for the first time since 2023.
Luis Garcia has been tasked with transforming the fortunes of this side, with the former Copa Del Rey champion as a player at Espanyol managing in just his second match at the helm on Tuesday.
Qatar have not claimed points in consecutive group matches at the Gulf Cup since 2019, following up a 2-1 defeat to Iraq that year with victories over Yemen (6-0) and the UAE (4-2).
In the 21st century, they have never lost a Gulf Cup group contest when netting multiple times, winning their last eight matches in this phase when doing so.
Not since 2009 have they suffered a defeat versus Oman, with Qatar going unbeaten in nine successive matches against them in all competitions.
Team News
From their World Cup qualifying defeat to Iraq (1-0) to their opening match at this tournament, Oman brought in four new faces to their starting 11, including Amjad Al-Harthi, Ali Ali-Busaidi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Issam Al-Sabhi.
Al-Sabhi scored their only goal against the hosts Kuwait on Saturday, while Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini stopped two of the three shots that he faced to preserve a point.
As for Qatar, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham collected his 50th cap with the national team on matchday one, while Mubarak Hamza replaced Yusuf Abdurisag for his first senior appearance and Bahaa Ellethy started on the back end, picking up his first cap as well.
Akram Afif converted a 17th-minute penalty in their opener, his 39th goal for the Maroon, drawing even with Sebastian Soria for fifth all-time.
Oman possible starting lineup:
Al-Mukhaini; Al-Harthi, Al-Khamisi, Al-Musalami, Al-Busaidi; Al-Saadi, Al-Alawi; Al-Yahmadi, Fawaz, Al-Mushaifri; Al-Sabhi
Qatar possible starting lineup:
Barsham; Salman, Al-Hussain, Ellethy; Al-Hassan, Fathy, Mashaal, Al-Brake; Abdurisag, Ali, Afif
We say: Oman 1-2 Qatar
Despite their recent struggles, the Qatari side's experience should serve them well, as they always seem to rise to the occasion in these Asian tournaments.
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