ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (Interstat) — The top two teams in Turkmenistan’s Ýokary Liga will clash Thursday when first-place Altyn Asyr hosts second-place Nebitci in a pivotal late-season match.

Altyn Asyr enters with commanding form, having won three straight matches and outscoring opponents 13-1 in that span, including a 5-1 rout of Köpetdag Aşgabat on Sunday. Nebitci also won its last outing 1-0 over Aşgabat but has shown inconsistency, with a 3-0 loss to Altyn Asyr in September highlighting recent struggles in the fixture.

The head-to-head record heavily favors the hosts. Altyn Asyr has won the last three meetings, including that 3-0 away victory on Sept. 22 and two 1-0 home wins earlier in 2025. Nebitci’s last triumph was a 1-0 home result on March 10.

A victory for Altyn Asyr would solidify its position atop the table with three matches remaining. Nebitci seeks to close the gap and prove it can overcome its recent nemesis. The match kicks off Dec. 4 in Ashgabat.