Al-Nassr will score its first victory! Al-Shorta vs Al-Nassr Prediction
Al Shorta
On Monday, Al-Shorta will host Al-Nassr at the Karbala International Stadium in a first-round clash of the AFC Champions League. Here’s a preview and prediction from the Dailysports expert team.
Al-Shorta
The "Arfa" secured the Iraqi Premier League title last season in dominant fashion, finishing five points clear of their closest rival, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. In 38 rounds, Alexander Ilic's side suffered only three defeats while registering 26 victories. Al-Shorta’s last loss came in February 2024, when they were beaten by Al-Talaba away from home.
Following their league triumph, Al-Shorta turned their attention to the national cup, defeating Al-Naft in the semifinals and edging past Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1-0 in the final. They started the new league campaign with a convincing 2-0 away win against Al-Zawraa in the opening round.
Al-Nassr
The "Global Club" fought for the Saudi Pro League title last season but fell short to Al-Hilal. This season began with the Saudi Super Cup, where Al-Nassr won their semifinal against Al-Taawoun 2-0 but lost the final to Al-Hilal in a 4-1 defeat.
In the current Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr's start has been inconsistent. After a 1-1 home draw with Al-Raed, they rebounded with a dominant 4-1 away victory against Al-Fayha. However, they dropped points again last Friday in a 1-1 home draw with Al-Ahli. In the previous AFC Champions League, Al-Nassr was knocked out in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Al-Ain.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History
- Al-Nassr defeated Al-Shorta in last year's Arab Club Champions Cup.
- Al-Shorta has kept clean sheets in their last four matches.
- The "Both teams to score" bet has landed in Al-Nassr’s last four matches.
Al-Shorta vs Al-Nassr Prediction
Bookmakers predict a clear advantage for Al-Nassr, with odds of 1.43 for their victory. We expect Al-Shorta to focus on solid defensive play, making "Under 3.0 total goals" at 1.73 a reasonable bet for this encounter.
