Zamalek's players (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Zamalek will have an easy but crucial game against the already-relegated side Al-Nasr Wednesday that could put them just one point away from winning the Egyptian Premier League.
"The Al-Nasr game is one of the most important matches in the current season," Zamalek football director Ismail Youssef told the team's website.
The Cairo giants need only four points from the four remaining games to win their first league since 2004 as they currently lead with 80 points, six ahead of defending champions Ahly. The two bitter rivals will be face-to-face in their next match on Tuesday 21 July.
"It's very crucial to win the three points from the Al-Nasr game before the Cairo derby," Youssef asserted.
Al-Nasr, with only 32 points from 37 games, will head back to the second division and their players are relieved from any pressure.
"We warned the players and stressed that they must not underestimate their opponents who will be eager to expose their talents," he added.
Four players are in an ongoing rehabilitation programme in an attempt to make them ready for the Wednesday game- Hazem Emam, Omar Gaber, Ahmed Ai and Obama.
Zamalek seem enthusiastic especially after they defeated South Africa's Orlando Pirates 2-1 away Saturday in their second win at the Africa Confederation Cup group stage, despite missing six key players.
Their last important league win against Ismaily 3-0 last week also boosted the team's morale after they were attacked following a 2-1 defeat to Maqassa.
"The technical staff [under the helms of Portuguese manager Jusualdo Ferreira] want to use the player's high morale to get a step closer to a league trophy by winning against Al-Nasr," Youssef stressed.
The other two opponents left for Zamalek are Talae El-Giesh followed by Wadi Degla while Ahly have another two tougher rivals waiting- third-placed ENPPI and Smouha, the only Egyptian team that made it into this season's African Champions' League group stage.
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