Al Ahly's Ramadan Sobhi in action with El Zamalek's Abdallah Gomaa REUTERS
Zamalek are well aware they cannot afford to drop any points as they meet struggling Smouha on Wednesday, with the Egyptian Premier League race heating up on top.
The White Knights will be keen to return to winning ways after three successive draws, two of which helped Ahly close to within two points of them before the Red Devils moved top for the first time this season after beating Ittihad 2-0 in Alexandria on Tuesday.
Should Zamalek overcome Smouha, they will be two points ahead of Ahly in a tight title race. The biter rivals settled for a 0-0 draw in a drab Cairo derby last Saturday.
Although Zamalek have displayed an attractive brand of attacking football this term, they are often criticized for their profligacy, having failed to finish off several games when they were in complete control.
"The derby was special, but we give it our all and we were not lucky to claim all three points," Zamalek coach Christian Gross said on the club's official website.
"The coming period is very important and we have to focus on the next match against Smouha."
Smouha are struggling after a series of disappointing results, with new coach Hossam Hassan, Egypt's all-time leading scorer, still trying to get them back on track.
They have lost their past five matches and have not won any match since beating Wadi Degla in October last year.
Smouha lie third from bottom in the table with 25 points, one adrift of safety.
Zamalek welcome back key duo Mahmoud Alaa and Hamdi Nagguez, who both missed the derby draw against Ahly due to injury.
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