Zamalek players fights for the ball against Dakhleya player in the Egyptian league (Photo: Ahram)
With only four matches left, Zamalek will be looking to maintain their dwindling Egyptian league hopes when they visit third-from-bottom Ittihad El-Shorta at Cairo's Arab Contractors Stadium on Saturday.
After Ahly managed to restore their eight-point lead at the top of the table following a 2-0 win over Dakhleya on Thursday, Zamalek's hopes of retaining the league title further faded, with their arch-rivals needing only two wins to win the trophy.
Zamalek, however, will be understandably keen to continue their winning run under manager Mohamed Helmi – who has guided them to six wins running since taking over from Scottish boss Alex McLeish early in May.
"The gap is not huge between us and Ahly," Zamalek forward Mahmoud Kahraba, who scored his side's sole goal in a 1-0 over ENPPI in their previous league game, told Al-Hayat TV on Wednesday.
"Yes, we got only four matches remaining, but nothing could be ruled out.
"We also compete in the domestic cup and the CAF Champions League. We won't accept anything other than finishing this season with a trophy."
The Whites will miss the services of midfielder Shikabala, who skipped several training sessions as he is understood to be keen to leave the club due to lack of first-team football under Helmi.
Egypt first-choice keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi will also sit out due to flu, according to football director Ismail Youssef. Playmaker Ayman Hefni and midfielder Ahmed Tawfik are still out due to injury while Zambian striker Emmanuel Mayuka was dropped for technical reasons.
Zamalek are second on 63 points, while relegation threatened Shorta lie 16th with 22.
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