Preview: Ahly eyeing revenge against Maqassa in Egyptian league

Ahram Online , Saturday 20 Jan 2018

Ahly
Maqassa caused an upset by beating Ahly 3-2 in a thrilling Egyptian Premier League clash in December (Ahram)

Egyptian Premier League leaders Ahly will be eyeing revenge against the team who handed them their only defeat so far when they meet Maqassa in Cairo on Sunday.

Ahly's 46-match unbeaten streak in the league ended when Maqassa beat them 3-2 in an exciting end-to-end clash last month, but, tomorrow, the Red Devils look favourites to make up for that reverse.

Since their December meeting, Ahly have won five times and drawn twice in seven league matches, while Maqassa's dramatic dip in form saw them fail to grab a single victory, losing three out of six games..

"We aim to maintain our concentration levels of the past few games and a victory over Maqassa is essential to increase the gap on top," Ahly assistant coach Ahmed Ayoub said on the club's official website.

"We also want to make up for our loss against Maqassa in the first half of the season, which was our first league defeat in a year and half."

A formidable Ahly side look well-equipped to win a third consecutive league title and their 11th in the last 12 editions, having moved top with a one-point lead over challengers Ismaily and two games in hand.

They sent out three players on loan to Saudi clubs in the January transfer window, including key winger Moemen Zakareya, but they were hardly affected by the departures.

The club also moved to extend the contracts of skipper Hossam Ashour and in-form winger Walid Soliman for two years. They said other players whose deals expire at the end of the season, including Egyptian international playmaker Abdallah El-Said, will soon put pen-to-paper on new contracts.

Having welcomed back striker Marwan Mohsen from a long injury lay-off, Ahly almost have a fully-fit squad to choose from. Attacking midfielder Saleh Gomaa was included in their squad for the Maqassa game despite his recent disciplinary problems.

Struggling Maqassa lie 12th in the 18-team table with 21 points at the halfway stage of the season.

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