Al Talaba vs Newroz - Iraqi League

There is a notable edge to this Iraqi League fixture. When Al Talaba meet Newroz at the home ground on April 22, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. Real have been keen to sign the Spain captain from Manchester City, but they now face competition from Barcelona for the 30-year-old, who has a year remaining on his contract at the Etihad.

Both camps will view the Iraqi League meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Al Talaba are mired in a difficult campaign, D over their last five and a paltry win rate of 12.5% painting a bleak picture. The visitors have been a steady presence on the road, D in their last five and a campaign win rate of 50%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. Their 3-0 win over Nice takes them up to second spot in the fledgling Ligue 1 table.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Al Talaba will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Newroz will back themselves to cause problems on the break. It isn't clear yet that this will definitely be a winger, with Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana flexible over their attack.

Star players on both sides will be eager to make their mark, and the individual duels across the pitch could go a long way to deciding the outcome. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Despite his youth, the defender has won a total of six titles with Benfica and the national team, and was named as the best defender in the 2022/23 Portuguese league season.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 2-2 draw feels like a fitting result. With positions in the Iraqi League table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.