Zamalek striker Bassem Morsi (Photo: Ahram)
A few days ahead of their anticipated 'African' clashes in the second-leg of the Confederation Cup round of 16, Cairo giants Ahly and Zamalek will both be looking for a moral win in the domestic league against Dakhleya and Gouna respectively on Monday.
Both teams will have a crucial Sunday in Africa as Ahly who claimed a narrow 2-1 over Club Africain two weeks earlier, should avoid loss against the Tunisian side away to go through to the competition's group stage.
However, Zamalek will be looking to overturn their 1-0 away defeat against Sanga Balende when they host the Congolese side on Sunday to advance to quarters.
Zamalek, who are on the brink of clinching their first league title since 2004, will be aiming to maintain their winning run in the Egyptian League when they visit Gouna on Monday.
Having no fresh injury worries with playmaker Ayman Hefny available once more after missing last Thursday's 5-1 thrashing of Ittihad El-Shorta, Zamalek are capable of earning their ninth successive win under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
But the game will not be easy for the White Knights given the critical situation of the Red Sea resort based-club who are on the edge of the drop zone. It is expected that the hosts will fight fiercely to survive.
"We played all games with the same strategy. We look only for wins to achieve our target and clinch the league title," Zamalek's football director Ismail Youssef told the club's official website on Sunday.
Zamalek are on the top of the League table with 69 points, eight points ahead of second placed ENPPI who have played four more games, while Gouna stay at 15th place with 39 points, two points from the relegation zone.
On the other hand, Ahly who claimed a last-gasp win over Ittihad of Alexandria last Thursday, will have a tough mission against Dakhleya on Monday.
Both teams met in an adjourned game from the first round, three weeks earlier, when Ahly claimed a difficult 1-0 win against the defensive-minded team.
The defending champions who are third in the league table with 58 points will be aiming to collect the three points of the game to move into second place.
Ahly will have to do it without key players Hossam Ashour, Hossam Ghaly, Walid Soliman and Mohamed Rezk. The first suffers from a knee injury while the others will miss the game due to their suspensions.
With the absence of Ghaly, Ashour and Rezk, newly signed Hendrik Helmke will be the only defensive midfielder available in this game.
The German midfielder who joined Ahly during the winter transfer window made his first appearance on Thursday.
Striker Emad Meteb and defender Mohamed Naguib suffered mild injuries during Sunday's training session meaning their participation in Monday's game is not certain.
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