Prediction Al Gharafa vs Al Shorta 2025/2026 season – Betting Tips for the AFC Champions League Elite on 29/09/2025

High stakes in Shanghai as Group action resumes

The second round of the West region in the AFC Champions League Elite brings an intriguing clash at the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in Shanghai on September 29, 2025. Al Gharafa arrive off the back of a stirring 3-2 victory in the Stars League just four days earlier, a result that showcased their ability to produce goals away from home. That win — with Yacine Brahimi earning the match’s top rating — will have lifted spirits in a squad that still sits on zero points after a tough opening group fixture that saw them concede four goals. Al Gharafa’s recent pattern is jagged: flashes of attacking potency interspersed with defensive lapses, and a domestic form run that reads with mixed results.

Al Shorta travel unbeaten in their recent run, carrying the weight of consistent performances into this continental encounter. Their domestic schedule mirrors an efficient attacking unit, with a 3-2 win only days ago and a run of form that leans heavily towards victories and draws — eight wins and two draws in the latest ten outings. In the group they collected a point from a 1-1 opener, suggesting a side comfortable finding the net while also willing to press forward and take control of territory; their attacking averages and dangerous-attack metrics underline a team that creates chances in volume.

Why this could be an open, entertaining tie

What stands out most in the numbers is the contrast in attacking profiles and recent scorelines. Al Gharafa’s matches recently have been goal-laden affairs — whether in victory or defeat — while Al Shorta have shown the industry to break teams down and the temperament to finish chances under pressure. Both teams come into this fixture with little in the way of clean-sheet reassurance in continental play, and the seasonal snapshots show a tendency for matches involving either side to produce multiple goals.

Shanghai provides neutral ground and a sizable venue, and that setting could favor the more composed side on the day. Al Shorta’s unbeaten momentum and superior attacking averages suggest they arrive as the steadier option, while Al Gharafa’s volatility offers the promise of goals but raises questions over defensive organization.

Betting suggestion: Goal market — Back Over 2.5 goals. The recent results and statistical indicators point to an open contest with both sides capable of scoring and conceding; the attack-minded patterns from both teams make the over 2.5 goals market the most attractive choice for this fixture.