Full time: Ahly 2-0 Zamalek

90+3 The referee blows the final whistle. It's Ahly 2-0 Zamalek, as the Reds go seven points clear on top.

90+2 Zamalek truying to push forward... 

90' A counter attack saw Ahly go three versus one before Gamal eventually beat El-Shennawi at the near corner!!

90' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Amr Gamal makes it two!!!

88' What a chance!! Maarouf plays a one-two with Morsi who released him inside the area before keeper Ekramy denies him!!

86' Zamalek look to have thrown in the towel with less than five minutes left

85' Saleh Gomaa replaces Zakareya.

84' A free kick from Shikabala headed wide by striker Morsi.

83' Substitute Mohamed Hani is booked following a foul on Tolba this time.

80' The first caution of the game is handed to Tolba who makes a fierce challenge on Amr Gamal.

77' Amr Gamal squanders what could have been a golden chance when he received the ball inside the area before seeing it cleared as he attempted to cut in.

75' Evouna also makes way as Amr Gamal is introduced

74' Shikabala replaces Hefni for Zamalek's last change

73' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Abdallah El-Saied superbly evades skips past Tawfik before playing Evouna in who goes through on goal before firing wide!!

71' Maarouf tries his luck from distance, but his strike goes wide of the post!

68' Zamalek players are mere bystanders in a lot of situations! A fact that was summarized by the goal they conceded.

65' Mostafa Fathi comes in for Kahraba

63' Emam wins a foul inside Ahly's half..

60' The first substitution for Zamalek, with right-back Hazem Emam replacing midfielder Abdel-Khalek.

58' The injured Fathi is substituted by Mohamed Hani.

55' Evouna darts with the ball easily facing two Zamalek center backs with Ahmed Tawfik trailing, but the Gabon striker superbly curls a low shot into the far corner from outside the area!!

55' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!! Evouna scores!!! 

53' An individual battle between Kahraba and Rahil, who eventually wins the contest

50' Zamalek in control after the break, yet unable to play the ball into the final third.

47' Gaber wins a foul from Ramadan inside the Zamalek half

The second half begins.

45' The referee blows the half-time whistle.

43' Zakareya receives the ball inside the six yard box but takes too much time to shoot as Dwidar makes a slide tackle to avert the danger.

40' Foul for Kahraba inside his own half as Fathi fouls him to halt a counter attack.

37' A strong challenge from Tolba on El-Said, as the Ahly man is currently being treated.

35' A notable feature of the half is the acres of space afforded to full-back Fathi down the right

31' The towering Gabr heads the ensuing corner wide

30' Bassem's free kick hits the wall and goes out for corner

29' Bassem wins a foul from a very good position.

27' Hefni sends an awful shot from outside the box, when he could have done much better than that!

24' Fathi released down the right but his cross is headed back by Gabr to his keeper 

24' El-Said strangely finds himself in space in front of the area before seeing his curling effort miss the target!!

22' Kahraba superbly moves in behind, but attemtps to skip past a couple of challengers inside the area as he eventually fails

19' What a strike! Fathi surprises everyone with a long-range volley that forces a fine save from El-Shennawi!!!

16' Evouna tries to find space inside the box before the Zamalek defense manage to clear the danger

14' Unbelievable! Rahil receives the ball in space inside the area before curiously blasting hight!

10' What a chance!! Zakareya sees his effort from outside the box narrowly go wide!

8' Tolba released down the left with a fine through ball but eventually saw his right-footed cross cleared away!

7' Zamalek are the dominant side so far..

4' What a strike! Maarouf hits a low shot from outside the area that narrowly miss the target!

4' Both teams look determined to press from the front in the opening stages!

1' Zamalek are the side to take the initiative early on...

The match gets underway.

18:45 Ahly need to contain the threat of Hefni and Kahraba, while the threat posed by El-Said and Sobhi should be nullified by the visitors tonight. 

18:35 It remains to be seen where Ahmed Tawfik will play, whether as a right-back or a holding midfielder.

18:25 Mido fielded the expected lineup, while retaining a strong bench featuring Shikabala, Mostafa Fathi, Ahmed Hamoudi and Hazem Emam. 

Zamalek starting linuep:

Ahmed El-Shennawi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Dwidar, Hamada Tolba, Ibrahim Abdel-Khalek, Ahmed Tawfik, Maarouf Yusuf, Ayman Hefni, Mahmoud Kahraba, Bassem Morsi 

18:10 Ahly manager Zizo is likely to use a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ghaly and Ashour shielding the defense, behind Sobhi, Zakareya and El-Said. 

Ahly starting lineup:

Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Hegazy, Ramy Rabia, Sabri Rahil, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour, Abdallah El-Said, Ramadan Sobhi, Moemen Zakareya, Malick Evouna

17:50 The Ahly bus has also reached the stadium.

17:35 The Zamalek contingent has just reached the stadium.

17:30 Zamalek is expected to play 4-3-3 in the absence of holder Tarek Hamed, featuring Ahmed Tawfik, Ibrahim Abdel-Khalek and Maarouf Yusuf in midifeld. 

16:55 Tight security measures are being taken as the Cairo derby will be staged behind closed doors.

16:35 Zambian striker Emmanuel Mayuka was omitted by Mido from the squad for technical reasons

16:30 Zamalek will be missing suspended defender Mohamed Koffi and injured defensive midfielder Tarek Hamed

16:25 Ahly's midfielder Hossam Ashour has recovered from a foot injury and will be available for the match, while veteran striker Emad Meteb will be the only absentee for disciplinary reasons

 

16:20 A victory over Zamalek could also pave the way for interim boss Zizo to remain in charge till the end of the season16:10 Ahly sit on top of the league table with 35 points, four ahead of Zamalek after 15 matches

 

16:00 Winning Tuesday's match will be crucial for Ahly to extend the gap with Zamalek to seven points

15:20 Zizo led Ahly to get nine points from three matches following victories over Ismaily, Ittihad and ENPPI

 

15:00 The Red Devils, who are without a permanent boss following the resignation of Jose Peseiro last Month, hope they continue their fine run under caretaker coach and club icon Abdel-Aziz “Zizo” Abdel-Shafi.

14:45 Zamalek's football director Hazem Emam has just denied that he is considering leaving his post directly after the derby

14:30 Ahly's technical staff preferred to travel early on Saturday to Alexandria to get the players fully concentrated on the match's atmosphere

13:45 Zamalek's chairman Mortada Mansour insisted that his club would not play in Alexandria, threatening to boycott the match and to even leave his post before agreeing to play in Alexandria early on Monday after having his request turned down by security officials

 

13:30 Zamalek's preparations for the match took a hit somewhat after the recent controversy over the match venue

13:00 Mido, Zamalek's third coach this season, could be facing the axe if he loses to Ahly, as the club's management has already begun to search for alternatives

12:30 Zamalek won four games in a row after Mido took over for a second spell early in January, but he was criticised for a series of uninspiring displays

12:00 Last week, Mido tasted his first loss at the helm of Zamalek against his former club Ismaily

11:30 Ahly defeated the Whites (League and Cup champions) 3-2 in their last confrontation in the Super Cup match in October to clinch their sole trophy last season

11:00 Zamalek coach Mido will be eyeing a positive result to silence critics and keep his post when his team face arch-rivals Ahly in the Egyptian league Cairo derby at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium on Tuesday

 

 

Venue: Borg El-Arab stadium, Alexandria

Referee: Victor Kassai (Hungary)

 

Legaue positions:

Ahly: 1st, 35 pts, 15 matches, 11 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses

Zamalek: 2nd, 31 pts, 15 matches, 9 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses

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