Iraqi football fans are looking forward to one of the most prominent matches of round 34 of the Iraqi Stars League, when Zakho faces its host Al-Qasim at 8:30 PM tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Najaf Stadium, in a match described as a struggle between ongoing ambition and renewed momentum.

Zakho, which drew attention at the beginning of the season with its impressive attacking performance and historic results, reached the top of the standings at one point in the league. However, recent months brought opposing winds, as the team's performance declined, leading to a series of unsatisfactory results, culminating in the dismissal of coach Talal Al-Balushi.

The management hastened to rearrange the technical aspects by appointing the well-known coach Abdul Ghani Shahad at the helm of the coaching staff, in an attempt to restore the team to its balance and maintain a respectable position in the standings. Zakho currently occupies third place with 59 points and is far from direct competition for the title, but it is still looking to solidify its status among the elite and finish the season in the best possible way.

On the other hand, Al-Qasim appears completely different from previous seasons, as it has delivered one of its most successful versions in the Stars League, thanks to the technical leadership of the great Syrian coach Ayman Al-Hakeem, who has managed to build a young and ambitious team characterized by discipline, speed, and collective play.

Al-Qasim is in ninth place with 48 points and is considered one of the most consistent teams in terms of performance over the past rounds, having delivered impressive levels against top teams, hoping to continue its positive results by taking down Zakho on its home ground in Najaf.

The first leg between the two teams was purely offensive, where Zakho overwhelmed its opponent Al-Qasim with a wide score of 6-2, in a match that will not be easily erased from the memories of the fans of both teams. However, the circumstances today are different, especially with Al-Qasim's improved performance and Zakho's relative decline, making tomorrow's match a new chapter whose outcome is unpredictable.

A strong battle brings together a team seeking to regain its glory after a period of fluctuation and another wanting to continue the dream and confirm its presence among the league's elite. Zakho enters with new leadership and ongoing ambitions, while Al-Qasim enters with the confidence of its youth and the wisdom of its coach. On a football night at Najaf, anything is possible, and the outcome will belong to those who possess the greater focus and desire to write the title.