The race for this season’s Egyptian Premier League hangs in the balance as the top two teams, eternal rivals Al Ahly an Zamalek, remained level on points following their respective games on Saturday.
Defending champions Al Ahly thrashed 10-man Ceramica Cleopatra 4-0 at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo while Zamalek thumped Ghazl El Mahallah 3-0 as both sides moved to 64 points with just six matches left.
Al Ahly, however, tops the table on account of a superior goal difference of +38 compared to Zamalek’s +33. Both teams have identical records registering 19 wins, seven draws and two losses from 28 matches.
Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Magdy and an own goal by Tarek Samy earned Al Ahly a commanding victory which would have been by an even greater margin had they not had two goals disallowed by VAR.
Earlier at the same venue, Ahmed Sayed, Seifeddine Jaziri and Achraf Bencharki were on target as Zamalek temporarily went three points clear atop the league.
Al Ahly has put together an impressive 17-match unbeaten streak in all competitions which has seen them cut the gap between them and Zamalek and also win the CAF Super Cup and CAF Champions League in the process.
The last time they lost a game was on May 3 when Ghazl El Mahallah stunned them 1-0. The club remains on course for another treble with the Egypt Cup still in play.
Zamalek has also strung together a 15-game unbeaten streak in all competitions since a 2-1 loss to Al Ahly at home in the league which has kept them in the title race and seen them qualify for the quarterfinals of the Egypt Cup.
So dominant are the two teams this season that they are 21 points clear of third-placed El Masry with Pyramids F.C. a further point back in fourth.
The Red Devils, Al Ahly, will hope to continue their successful run under coach Pitso Mosimane and secure a record-extending 43rd league title and sixth straight championship while the White Knights, Zamalek, will be aiming to win a 13th league crown and break their rivals’ stranglehold on the league.
Both teams will be in action on August 14 as Ismailiy welcomes Zamalek before Al Ahly hosts ENPPI later in the evening.
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