The People's International Stadium will host tomorrow, Friday, at exactly 5:00 PM, an anticipated match between Al-Shorta Club and its guest Al-Naft, as part of the 32nd round of the Iraqi Stars League. The match carries a tone of revenge for Al-Shorta and a tone of self-assertion for the tenacious Al-Naft.

Al-Shorta enters the match in second place with 64 points, following a dramatic 2-2 draw against Naft Maysan in the previous round. This draw halted the 'Harp' winning streak and kept the gap with the leader, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, at 7 points instead of reducing it.

High psychological pressure: Al-Shorta squandered a golden opportunity to get closer to the top after Al-Jawiya stumbled against Nawroz 1-1. The team is now required to win all the remaining matches and wait for another gift from the leader.

People's Stadium Complex: Although the match is on its home ground and among its fans, Al-Shorta lost 5 points at People's Stadium this season, putting the team under double pressure tomorrow.

Championship calculations: Any new stumble practically means the end of the championship dream, as Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya with 71 points can clinch the league three rounds early if the 7-point gap persists. Al-Shorta needs to reach 67 points tomorrow to keep a glimmer of hope alive.

The first-leg match between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw at Captain Sharar Haidar Stadium, in a match where Al-Shorta missed a win that was within reach. The coach knows that repeating the scenario tomorrow is forbidden and that the fans will not forgive any new stumble.

On the other hand, Al-Naft arrives as a guest in 13th place with 39 points. The team is always classified as one of the 'tough teams' that cause trouble for the big ones, even if it is not in its best season.

Relative safety: Al-Naft has distanced itself from the danger zones and is in a largely safe area, but it has not mathematically secured its stay. The team needs 4-5 points from 7 rounds to officially ensure its stay.

Strong record against the big ones: Al-Naft drew with Al-Zawraa 1-1, drew with Al-Talaba, and imposed a draw on Al-Shorta in the first leg. The team plays with high combativeness against the popular clubs and excels in 'ruining' their plans.

Iron defense: Despite its late position, Al-Naft has conceded only 31 goals, making it one of the top 6 defenses in the league. The team relies on compactness and counterattacks and exploits set-pieces remarkably.

Nothing to lose: Al-Naft will play comfortably and without pressure, unlike Al-Shorta, which is required to win only. This situation makes it a dangerous opponent, especially if it succeeds in scoring an early goal that disrupts the 'Harp's' calculations.