Zamalek face Petrojet in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday (photo: Ahram)
Zamalek will be eyeing their longest-ever winning streak in a single season when they face Petrojet in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday.
The success-starved Cairo side, who are yearning to end a five-year title drought, have already set a club record for the best league start when they beat Dakhleya 2-1 last month for their 10th straight victory.
A win over Petrojet will help them eclipse another club record for the longest winning run in a single season, which they set in the 1987-88 season. Zamalek's last defeat in all competitions was in September last year when they lost 2-1 to TP Mazembe in the African Champions League.
The White Knights lead Group B of the league's new format with a maximum 30 points from 10 matches, six ahead of nearest challengers Ismaily who played two games more. Petrojet lie a distant fifth on 13 points.
Zamalek are jubilant after reaching the Champions League group stage by the skin of their teeth as they needed a late header from in-form Burkinabe striker Abdoulaye Cisse to overcome Ethiopia's Saint George on the away goal rule following a 3-3 aggregate draw.
The team will have to do without versatile midfielder Omar Gaber game after he sustained a knock in his knee during Tuesday's training session.
Fellow midfielder Ibrahim Salah is also out after he was injured in car accident on his way back to Cairo from hometown Mansoura. His family said he is fine.
"We are only focusing now on the league games. We have enough time to prepare for the Champions League matches," Zamalek assistant coach Osama Nabih said.
"Petrojet are a powerful team, they always proved to be a stubborn opponent but we are determined to get a positive result."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
Short link: