A match race is a head-to-head competition between two individuals or teams, often in horse racing or other sports. Synonyms for this term may include a duel, a showdown, a face-off, or a one-on-one contest. Other phrases that could be used to describe a match race include a battle, a clash, or a competition between rivals. In some contexts, the term may also refer to a comparison or correlation between two different things, such as a "match race" between two different cars or products. Ultimately, the synonym used depends on the specific context and the tone of the discussion or description.