Photo courtesy of Ahly official facebook account.
With three matches remaining, Zamalek lead the table with 50 points, while Ahly are third on 44. Pyramids FC are second with 47 points and will face Enppi earlier in the day.
In recent years, the Cairo derby has lost some of its competitive edge but remains fiercely contested due to the stature and popularity of the two Cairo giants.
Ahly have held the upper hand over the past three seasons, effectively operating in a league of their own, but the situation has shifted this term, with Zamalek holding a six-point advantage at the top.
Zamalek need just six points from their remaining matches, and victory on Friday would move them closer to the title. They could even be crowned champions later in the day if Pyramids FC lose to ENPPI.
Ahly, meanwhile, must win on Friday and their remaining two matches to keep alive their slim hopes of securing a fourth successive league title.
Both sides come into the derby on the back of disappointing results. Zamalek were held to a goalless draw by Enppi on Monday, while Ahly slumped to a 3-0 defeat by Pyramids FC.
Zamalek coach Moatamed Gamal will be hoping to cap a difficult season on a high note. Despite a series of technical and administrative problems, the team have exceeded expectations by leading the table and reaching the Confederation Cup final.
They will be keen to secure a positive result to avoid the pressure of must-win matches in their remaining fixtures against Smouha and Ceramica Cleopatra.
Gamal is expected to largely retain his usual line-up, with Mohamed Ismael or Mohamed Ibrahim likely to replace injured fullback Omar Gaber. The rest of the side is set to remain unchanged, featuring the in-form attacking trio of Juan Alvina, Odai Dabbagh and Nasser Mansi, supported by Ahmed Fatouh and Abdallah El-Said.
Zamalek are also likely to stick to their trademark defensive approach, relying on counter-attacks — a strategy that has brought them success this season.
Unconvincing Ahly
Ahly, by contrast, will look to the experience of their squad and hope to rediscover form. While they boast several high-profile players, defensive frailties have been a persistent concern.
With players such as Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Emam Ashour, Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed and Achraf Bencharki, Ahly have the quality to challenge, but aside from Trezeguet, many have struggled for consistency.
If Zamalek’s results have exceeded expectations, Ahly’s performances have been largely underwhelming. Their defence, which has conceded 24 goals in 23 matches, remains a key weakness, although the absence of Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Hani may not be keenly felt given their inconsistent displays.
The team’s attacking output has also been unconvincing. Trezeguet leads the scoring charts with nine goals, while Zizo has four. Strikers Mohamed Sherif and Marwan Othman have scored twice each, and Ieltsin Camões is yet to find the net.
Ahly will, however, be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy and winger Hussein El-Shahat after suspension.
Under-pressure coach Jess Thorup, whose future at the club remains uncertain, will be eager to end his tenure on a positive note — and a victory over Zamalek would be the ideal way to do so.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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