File photo of Masry coach Hossam Hassan (Ahram)
Hossam Hassan, a former Ahly hero who later became their public enemy number one after signing for arch rivals Zamalek more than 16 years ago, leads a high-flying Masry side against the Red Devils on Sunday with the aim of setting a club record for consecutive wins.
Masry are blossoming under Egypt's all-time leading scorer this season and will be looking to continue their recent impressive run when they meet league leaders and holders Ahly, who will be determined not to drop any points after being held to a 0-0 draw by Enppi in their previous game.
Hassan led Masry to a six-match winning run in the league to equal a club record set in the 1981/82 season as the club moved to third in the table with 31 points, eight behind Ahly.
Ahly are well aware they need a win that will give them a morale boost before Thursday's Cairo derby against arch-rivals Zamalek, who are still seen as their genuine challengers for the league title.
Zamalek are 14 points adrift of Ahly but they still have four matches in hand.
"We are totally focusing on the game against Masry, we are not thinking about anything else," Ahly's football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz said on the club's official website.
"The Cairo derby is not in our minds now. We just seek to defeat Masry and keep our position on top of the table."
Hossam Hassan has always proven a tough opponent against Ahly, whom he left to join Zamalek in the summer of 2000, marking one of the most shocking transfers in the history of Egyptian football.
Ahly failed to beat Masry in two league games last season.
Their first match ended in a 2-2 draw after Masry had taken the lead twice and the second was a remarkable one, with the Port Said-based club claiming all three points after racing into a 3-0 goal lead before Ahly scored two late goals that were not enough for them to get something from the game.
Ahly are still without influential defender Ahmed Hegazy due to injury but they welcome back Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul, who was rested for the draw with Enppi.
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