Al Taawon face Al-Qadisiyah with relegation trouble mounting

Al Taawon sit seventeenth of 18 in the Pro League, with four points from nine matches and a goal difference of minus twelve. Their opponents on Tuesday, Al-Qadisiyah FC, sit top of the table on 22 points with a goal difference of plus fourteen. The gap between the two sides could hardly be wider.

Points that must start coming

Al Taawon have yet to win a league game this season. All four of their points have come from draws, and they have lost five times. Breaking that run is the first step in any escape from the bottom three, and a meeting with the division’s best side offers no easy route.

A home side without a goal

Al Taawon’s problem is most visible at home. They have failed to score in any of their home league games this season, collecting three draws and one defeat there. In their last five matches overall they have scored once and conceded eleven times, and they have lost their last three league games.

Al-Qadisiyah arrive in form. They have won their last two league matches and sit unbeaten in their last five, scoring fifteen times in that run while conceding six. Away from home they have won all four of their league games, keeping three clean sheets along the way.

Even history, tight margins

The sides have met five times in the recent past, across league and cup. Al Taawon have won twice, Al-Qadisiyah have won twice, and one meeting ended level. The most recent league encounter, in February, finished 1-1 at Al-Qadisiyah’s ground, and Al Taawon’s 2-0 win in November shows they can beat this opponent when they are at their best.

Our prediction

Al-Qadisiyah have the stronger attack, the better form and the more reliable away record, while Al Taawon have struggled to score anywhere this season. Al Taawon will fight hard in front of their own supporters, but a side without a home goal is unlikely to find one against a team that has conceded only once away. Al-Qadisiyah should edge a tight contest.

Al Taawon 0-2 Al-Qadisiyah FC