The eyes of Iraqi football fans turn, on the evening of next Monday, towards Al-Zawraa Stadium in the capital, Baghdad, which will host an important match between Al-Shorta Club and its Qatari counterpart Al-Duhail Club, as part of the eighth round of the AFC Champions League Elite competition, at 9:15 PM.

Al-Shorta team enters the match with more moral ambitions than competitive ones, having officially exited the tournament earlier, playing with the slogan of saving face and striving to achieve its first victory in the current edition, especially since it has not yet tasted victory in Asia this season.

On the local front, the 'Qithara' is experiencing a good period in the Iraqi Stars League, as it occupies second place with 35 points, behind the leader Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, presenting stable technical levels reflecting the harmony among its players and the ability of its technical staff to manage matches wisely. However, the team is coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw against Uzbekistani Nasaf, in a match where it hoped to improve its continental image, but it confirmed the difficulty of its Asian journey this season.

Al-Shorta will try to capitalize on the home and crowd factors to end its participation honorably, especially since the match is held at Al-Zawraa Stadium, with expectations of a fan presence supporting the team until the last moment, despite its elimination from the qualification accounts.

On the other hand, Al-Duhail realizes that the encounter will not be easy, as the Iraqi team will play without pressure, which may give it greater freedom in movement and offensive initiative. The match is expected to witness a clear tactical struggle in the midfield, with attempts from Al-Shorta to impose its rhythm and search for an early goal to disrupt the visitors' plans.