Al-Gharafa — Al-Shorta : Match Preview and Prediction for September 29,2025

Al-Gharafa’s Thrilling Start to the Champions League

The Qatari side commenced their Champions League campaign with an absolute rollercoaster. A 3-4 defeat against Al-Sharjah was more than just a scoreline; it was a seven-goal festival, brimming with drama and a notable lack of defensive caution. To lead 2-0 and then lose 3-4, conceding two goals in the very late stages, profoundly illustrates their game philosophy.

Goal-Fest in Domestic League

This was swiftly followed by a local championship match against Al-Rayyan, which once again devolved into a scoring frenzy – a 3-2 triumph. This fixture, widely described as “insane” in the press, solidified the team’s commitment to attacking football, often at the expense of defensive stability. The statistics from that clash screamed goals: the combined xG (expected goals) for both teams registered at 4.67, indicating an abundance of created scoring opportunities.

Consistent High-Scoring Matches

The figures from Al-Gharafa’s recent outings leave no ambiguity. In 10 of their last 13 matches, a minimum of three goals were scored. Furthermore, when analyzing their home fixtures, the trend becomes even more pronounced: the Over 2.5 total was reached in 15 out of 19 games played on their own pitch. This is not mere happenstance but a clear pattern, unequivocally supported by the team’s intrinsic playing style.

Al-Shorta’s High-Scoring Domestic Form

The Iraqi club also demonstrates a propensity for high-scoring encounters. Their most recent national championship fixture concluded with an exhilarating 3-2 victory over Nawroz. Five goals in a single match provide substantial evidence that Al-Shorta is adept at playing expansive football, generating numerous attacks while occasionally leaving themselves exposed defensively.

Continental Performance and Away Record

In the initial round of the Champions League, they secured a 1-1 draw against the Qatari powerhouse Al-Sadd. This performance underlines the team’s capacity to find the net against formidable opponents from strong leagues, a category that Al-Gharafa also occupies. It’s also pertinent to observe Al-Shorta’s away statistics: three or more goals were registered in 4 of their last 5 matches played on the road.

Coach’s Confident Stance

Despite the unavailability of three key players, including the Brazilian foreign talent Lucas Mosis, Al-Shorta’s coach, Momen Soliman, delivered an unambiguous message at the pre-match press conference. He unequivocally stated that his squad had traveled to Qatar with the firm intention of imposing their dominance. This serves as a direct signal that the Iraqis have no plans to retreat into a defensive shell but will actively pursue scoring opportunities.