In one of the encounters that carries a special character, Duhok Club will host its guest from the capital, Al-Talaba, on the evening of Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Duhok Stadium, at 8:30 PM, as part of the third and thirty round of the Iraq Stars League, just less than a week after their postponed match that ended in a goalless draw at the city stadium in Baghdad.

The match is a great opportunity for both teams to respond on the field and achieve a better result, after they both left with a single point in the last match, amidst an atmosphere that witnessed great anticipation due to the presence of the new Iraqi national team coach, Australian Graham Arnold, who watched the match from the stands, as part of his first observation of local league matches.

Al-Talaba enters the match with clear ambitions, as it is one of the most prominent teams that has presented a cohesive and convincing season from a technical perspective under the leadership of coach Bassem Qasim. It currently occupies fourth place with 56 points and hopes to leave Duhok Stadium with a positive result that allows it to remain in the battle for the top positions, or even reduce the gap with the leading teams if they stumble.

On the other hand, Duhok, led by Swedish coach Masoud Miral, is experiencing a fluctuation in results despite being classified as one of the teams with outstanding talents and players. The northern team had an attention-grabbing season after winning the Gulf Champions League title, but following that continental achievement, its results in the league have declined, and it is now trying to take advantage of its postponed matches to regain its natural place among the top teams.

Duhok has fewer matches compared to other teams, which theoretically puts it in a relatively comfortable position, provided it makes good use of these postponed matches in its favor. Today's match will be an important test for their response, especially since the fans are expecting a strong result from the team at home.

From a technical perspective, Al-Talaba is expected to rely on its tactical discipline and the strength of its midfield led by a group of young and experienced names, while Duhok may depend on the fan spirit in its stadium and the moral boost following a good performance in the first leg.