SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 13 hrs 2 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BN
Gulf Cup of Nations | Group Stage
Dec 25, 2024 at 5.30pm UK
Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
IN

Bahrain
vs.
Iraq

 

Preview: Bahrain vs. Iraq - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Bahrain vs. Iraq - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Gulf Cup of Nations clash between Bahrain and Iraq, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

Both sides collected narrow victories on matchday one, with the Bahrainis defeating Saudi Arabia 3-2 and Iraq blanking Yemen 1-0.


Match preview

After coming out firing in the opening half against the Saudis, Bahrain nearly gave it all away in the final 45 minutes, doing just enough to claim three points.

That ended their five-match winless run across all competitions, putting them in a position to potentially qualify for the knockout phase of the Gulf Cup for a fourth successive occasion.

For that to happen on Wednesday, they would need to win and have Saudi Arabia and Yemen draw to guarantee their passage into the next round.

Bahrain have gone unbeaten in five consecutive group stage fixtures at the Arabian Gulf Cup, winning four of those matches.

Lately, Dragan Talajic has seen his side be much more decisive in the attacking third, scoring a combined five goals in their previous two competitive fixtures, one more than they had managed in their seven encounters played before that.

They are undefeated in their last six meetings with Iraq, including a shootout victory the last time the two teams squared off at this tournament, in the 2019 semi-finals.

As we have come to expect, Iraq were rock solid defensively once again on Sunday, failing to concede a single effort on target versus Yemen.

It was the sixth time in their last seven competitive matches that Jesus Casas had seen his side maintain a clean sheet, with this team doing so now in three consecutive international affairs.

In their previous 11 matches across all competitions, the Lions of Mesopotamia have only suffered one defeat, narrowly losing 3-2 versus South Korea in a World Cup qualifier last October.

The reigning Gulf Cup champions have not lost any of their last 10 group contests at this event, with their previous defeat in this phase dating back to November 2014 (2-0 versus the United Arab Emirates).

They have not lost a single encounter all year after scoring first, while they boast a 100% record across all competitions in 2024 when doing so.

Iraq have not beaten Bahrain after 90 minutes since the group portion of this tournament in 2010 (3-2), but they have not lost to them in normal time on four successive occasions.

Bahrain Gulf Cup of Nations form:


Bahrain form (all competitions):


Iraq Gulf Cup of Nations form:


Iraq form (all competitions):



Team News

We saw four newcomers who did not begin the World Cup qualifier against Australia start for Bahrain this past weekend, including Waleed Al Hayam, Kamil Al-Aswad, Mahdi Al-Humaidan and Mahdi Abduljabbar.

Al-Humaidan and Abduljabbar scored first-half goals on matchday one, with Mohamed Marhoon's winner coming 14 minutes from the end.

Two Iraqi players collected their first caps for the senior squad in their opening game, as Marko Farji and Peter Gwargis came on as second-half substitutes in place of Ali Jasim and Youssef Amyn.

A 64th-minute strike by Aymen Hussein enabled his side to claim maximum points, while Jalal Hassan picked up yet another clean sheet.

Bahrain possible starting lineup:
Lutfalla; Al-Shamsan, Benaddi, Al Hayam, Al-Khulasi; Al-Shaikh, Al-Aswad, Saeed, Al-Humaidan; Marhoon, Abduljabbar

Iraq possible starting lineup:
Hassan; Saadoon, Younis, Tahseen, Jeahze; Shlimon, Bayesh, Attwan, Jasim; Ali, Hussein


We say: Bahrain 0-1 Iraq

We trust that Iraq's cohesiveness and outstanding defensive structure will get them through this encounter and a step closer to the knockout stage.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__561227 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-12-23 02:31:58:
html db last update - 2024-12-23 02:31:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
New era for Australia, Jordan sensing a chance? AFC World Cup qualifying latest
Man United's Marcus Rashford replacement likely to leave the club in January?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man United's Marcus Rashford replacement likely to leave the club in January?

1

MU

Pep Guardiola to dig into war chest and sign £80m rated attacker for Man City?

2

PG

Preview: Yemen vs. Saudi Arabia - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PY

Preview: Bahrain vs. Iraq - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PB

Two Arsenal, two Liverpool: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

5

TA

Amorim Vs Arteta: Manchester United to battle Arsenal for star forward?

6

AV

'Everton draw better than Brentford win': Maresca delighted with Toffees stalemate

7

'D

Anderson whitewashed in second round in another Ally Pally shocker

8

AW

Preview: Guimaraes vs. Nacional - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PG

Sunday's Coupe de France predictions including Lens vs. PSG

10

SC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .