Al Najaf v Al Shorta preview: Visitors can prove cut above

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Competition: Iraq Iraqi League
Date: Tue 09.July
Match begins: 14:00 (UTC)
Venue: Al Najaf Stadium (12000 seats)

Struggling Al Najaf will be hoping to pull off an upset when they welcome high-flying Al Shorta in the upcoming league round. It’s 15th vs 1st and the home crowd will have moderate expectations.

It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Al Najaf and Al Shorta.

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Al Najaf form and stats

Al Najaf have collected 21 points from their home games so far after 5-6-7. Al Najaf are slowly digging their own grave here at Al Najaf Stadium with the depressing streak of not having won a home game in seven attempts. The last victory here came in the Al Talaba match.

The points were shared in Al Najaf's previous game, also at home. Visiting Al Shorta travelled back with a point after a 0-0 scoreline. Before that, Al Najaf drew at home versus Al Zawra'a.

The Al Najaf fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium, the tally being 21 in 18 matches. On the other hand, Al Najaf have conceded 24 goals.

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Al Shorta form and stats

Al Shorta's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Al Shorta, who have the fewest conceded goals (18) in Iraqi League, collect 41 points from their 17 away matches. 12 victories and 5 draws have created these points (and only 0 defeats). Al Shorta are enjoying a nice run from their away games now, having played 17 in a row without losing.

Al Shorta has to pack their bags again for the second away game in a row. Last time they traveled to Al Najaf for a Iraqi League game that ended a draw (0-0). Prior to that match, a home win 2-1 against Baghdad.

Al Shorta are not goal shy away from home, finding the net 30 times in 17 away games so far. The Al Shorta defense is a tough nut to crack, having conceded less than half a goal per away game on average (6 goals in 17 games).

Head 2 Head

Al Najaf - Al Shorta 0-0 was the story when these teams last met, earlier this season. Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: 1 win for Al Najaf, 4 draws and 5 wins for Al Shorta. Over 2,5 goals: 4 times; under 2,5 goals: 6 games.

Top Goalscorers

Ala'a Abdul Zahra
26 goals

Al Najaf missing players

Al Shorta missing players

Al Najaf Al Shorta
Total Home Home vs top Statistic Away vs low Away Total
35 18 5 Played 4 17 35
8 5 1 Won 4 12 26
15 6 3 Drew 0 5 8
12 7 1 Lost 0 0 1
36 21 7 Scored 14 30 71
41 24 7 Conceded 1 6 18
86% 94% 100% Over 0.5 100% 82% 86%
60% 67% 60% Over 1.5 75% 59% 69%
37% 44% 40% Over 2.5 50% 29% 43%
26% 28% 40% Over 3.5 50% 18% 26%
9% 11% 20% Over 4.5 25% 6% 11%
51% 61% 60% BTTS 25% 35% 40%
26% 17% 20% Clean Sheets 75% 65% 60%
37% 28% 20% Failed To Score 0% 18% 14%
 
3.5 1 0 Corners For (avg) 0 6.5 7.8
2.5 2 0 Corners Against (avg) 0 2.5 2.8
2 2 0 Yellow Cards (avg) 0 2 2.8
0 0 0 Red Cards 0 0 0
Key stats this season:
  • Al Najaf have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
  • Al Najaf have won significantly less corners at home than away.
  • Al Shorta have created more than twice as many corners as Al Najaf.
  • Al Shorta have not yet lost a game away.
  • Al Shorta have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
  • Al Shorta have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded.

Al Najaf
All Iraqi League
All Home Away
15-05-19 IL Alsinaat Alkahrabaiya 0 - 1 Al Najaf
21-05-19 IL Al Najaf 1 - 1 Al Kahrabaa
27-05-19 IL Naft Maysan 3 - 2 Al Najaf
01-06-19 IL Al Najaf 0 - 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya
14-06-19 IL Al Hussein 0 - 0 Al Najaf
19-06-19 IL Al Najaf 1 - 1 Al Diwaniya
24-06-19 IL Erbil 0 - 0 Al Najaf
30-06-19 IL Al Najaf 0 - 1 Al Hudod
05-07-19 IL Al Najaf 3 - 3 Al Zawra'a
09-07-19 IL Al Najaf 0 - 0 Al Shorta
Al Shorta
All Syria Cup Iraqi League Premier League
All Home Away
10-05-19 IL Al Shorta 5 - 3 Al Kahrabaa
16-05-19 IL Naft Maysan 1 - 1 Al Shorta
23-05-19 IL Al Shorta 2 - 3 Al Quwa Al Jawiya
28-05-19 IL Al Hussein 0 - 2 Al Shorta
01-06-19 IL Al Shorta 1 - 0 Al Diwaniya
14-06-19 IL Al Shorta 2 - 1 Erbil
20-06-19 IL Al Hudod 1 - 2 Al Shorta
26-06-19 IL Al Shorta 3 - 1 Al Simawa
02-07-19 IL Al Shorta 2 - 1 Baghdad
09-07-19 IL Al Najaf 0 - 0 Al Shorta

  Total Home Away  
# Team MP W D L F A MP W D L F A MP W D L F A D P
1 Al Shorta 35 26 8 1 71 18 18 14 3 1 41 12 17 12 5 0 30 6 53 86
2 Al Quwa Al Jawiya 35 23 9 3 53 24 17 10 5 2 28 14 18 13 4 1 25 10 29 78
3 Al Zawra'a 35 16 13 6 51 36 17 7 7 3 26 17 18 9 6 3 25 19 15 61
4 Al Karkh 35 15 11 9 43 32 17 9 4 4 22 15 18 6 7 5 21 17 11 56
5 Naft 35 13 15 7 54 37 17 7 5 5 24 17 18 6 10 2 30 20 17 54
6 Naft Maysan 35 13 13 9 51 44 18 11 6 1 37 20 17 2 7 8 14 24 7 52
7 Baghdad 35 12 11 12 33 32 18 7 5 6 16 15 17 5 6 6 17 17 1 47
8 Naft Al-Wasat 35 10 15 10 33 34 17 6 5 6 14 12 18 4 10 4 19 22 -1 45
9 Al Talaba 35 10 14 11 46 46 18 6 8 4 27 22 17 4 6 7 19 24 0 44
10 Erbil 35 11 11 13 30 32 18 8 7 3 19 6 17 3 4 10 11 26 -2 44
11 Al Kahrabaa 35 9 16 10 38 40 17 4 7 6 16 19 18 5 9 4 22 21 -2 43
12 Al Hudod 35 10 13 12 30 38 18 8 5 5 21 19 17 2 8 7 9 19 -8 43
13 Naft Al-Janoob 35 11 8 16 34 47 17 7 4 6 21 21 18 4 4 10 13 26 -13 41
14 Al Diwaniya 35 8 16 11 29 39 18 5 8 5 17 21 17 3 8 6 12 18 -10 40
15 Al Najaf 35 8 15 12 36 41 18 5 6 7 21 24 17 3 9 5 15 17 -5 39
16 Alsinaat Alkahrabaiya 35 9 11 15 28 36 18 5 6 7 16 18 17 4 5 8 12 18 -8 38
17 Al Minaa Basra 35 7 15 13 32 38 17 5 10 2 18 12 18 2 5 11 14 26 -6 36
18 Al Simawa 35 8 7 20 24 55 17 4 5 8 11 18 18 4 2 12 13 37 -31 31
19 Al Bahri 35 5 11 19 34 60 17 2 8 7 17 26 18 3 3 12 17 34 -26 26
20 Al Hussein 35 4 12 19 25 46 18 3 8 7 15 20 17 1 4 12 10 26 -21 24

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