BAGHDAD (Interstat) — Naft hosts Al Mina’a SC on Thursday in an Iraqi League match that pits two clubs searching for consistency amid a season of tight margins.

The game, scheduled for May 14 at Naft’s home ground, carries added weight given the recent form of both sides. Al Mina’a enters Thursday’s match on a two-game losing streak, most recently dropping a 2-0 decision at home to Al Zawra’a SC on Sunday. That defeat extended a worrying trend for the Basra-based club, which has managed just one win in its last six contests — a 4-0 victory over Amanat Baġdād SC on April 21.

Al Mina’a’s offensive struggles are pronounced. In its past seven league matches, the team has scored only two goals while conceding 10. The 3-3 draw at Al Qassim SC on May 6 offered a rare moment of attacking spark, but subsequent defensive lapses have undermined any momentum. Manager [Unknown] will be seeking a response from a squad that has not kept a clean sheet in its last four outings.

Naft, meanwhile, comes off a 3-0 defeat at Naft Maysan on Sunday, snapping a three-match unbeaten run. The Baghdad-based side had posted consecutive scoreless draws against Al Karma SC and Mosul SC before the setback. Naft’s season has been defined by defensive discipline — its 1-0 loss to Diyala FC on April 18 was the only match in its last five in which it conceded more than one goal.

The teams met most recently Jan. 28, playing to a 0-0 stalemate in Naft’s stadium. That result extended a pattern of low-scoring encounters: the last four head-to-head meetings have produced a combined four goals, with neither side winning by more than a single score.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a narrow 1-0 win for Naft, reflecting the home side’s slight edge in recent defensive metrics. Naft has posted four clean sheets in its last 10 league matches, while Al Mina’a has been shut out in five of its last seven.

Both teams sit in the middle of the Iraqi League table, making Thursday’s result potentially pivotal for positioning in the closing stretch of the season. Kickoff is set for [Time TBD].