All eyes are on the 'Wizard Ahmed Radhi' Stadium in the capital Baghdad tomorrow evening, where Al-Karkh will host their counterpart Al-Zawraa in a match taking place in the 36th round of the Iraqi Star League. This match carries a special significance, even though the balance of competition has shifted away from Al-Zawraa, who has largely lost the chance to win the title this season.

Al-Zawraa enters the match in second place with 74 points, behind the leaders Al-Shorta by a margin that is no longer much of a help with only two rounds left in the league. The team has had an acceptable season in terms of results, but they stumbled at crucial moments, the latest being the surprising defeat against Al-Qasim with a score of 2-1, a loss that greatly harmed their hopes of competing for the title.

Young coach Haidar Obeid has led Al-Zawraa with an upward performance in some phases of the season, managing to build a balanced squad that includes young elements and others with experience. However, individual errors and inconsistency in results, especially in matches against mid-level teams, have cost the team valuable points in the title race.

Although winning the title has become nearly impossible, the 'Seagulls' will face Al-Karkh with the aim of maintaining their second-place position and delivering a performance worthy of the club's rich history, especially in front of their fans who are waiting for a redemption after the disappointment of the last round.

On the other hand, Al-Karkh is experiencing a fluctuating season, but it is acceptable given the available resources, currently sitting in sixteenth place with 40 points. The team was not a contender for advanced positions, but it has succeeded in distancing itself from the relegation zones thanks to collective performance and tactical discipline.

Al-Karkh is always considered a tough opponent against the big teams, having previously embarrassed popular teams on more than one occasion. Tomorrow’s match will also be an opportunity for them to assert their identity as a team not to be underestimated, especially since the first leg ended with a narrow loss of 2-1, and they now hope to repay the debt on their home ground.