Ahly – Ismaily preview: Game of the season!!

I usually don’t discuss local football on this blog; however, this time the event was too big, too important and too exciting to ignore. Today is the D-day in the Egyptian league; the champion will be decided between Ahly and Ismaily In a game that won’t lack excitement and suspense.

Finally the most exciting season Egyptian fans has witnessed both in the battle for the championship and the battle to avoid relegation is coming to an end, a season which was full of ups and downs: more than 4 teams competing at the top for the first time in ages, a team which was a strong candidate of relegation after the first round next moment he was competing for an African seat, great goals, surprising results, good attendance in stadiums…..etc

Now the final meter of the race is between the two teams that deserved it; Ahly and Ismaily who continued to exchange seats all over the season until they ended both with 63 points and are now playing a tie breaker for the title.

Happened it to be that both teams has the biggest rivalry in Egypt and especially between the two sets of fans; the atmosphere in their clashes has always been electric, riots and violence in the stands can only be seen in their matches among all other matches, even the Cairo derby isn’t as electric but because Ismaily isn’t a regular champion and based in the city of Ismailia away from Cairo, the competition is always between the two Cairo giants.

Both have played tie breakers before; in 1991 Ismaily won 2-0 and in 1994 Ahly won 4-3.

Take a look at some of their most remarkable games recently

Ismaily beat Ahly 3-0

Ahly beat Ismaily 6-0

I can safely say that Egypt will be divided in red and yellow tomorrow including Zamalek fans who has made clear their stance for the game to break Ahly’s dominance; on the other hand, Ahly fans are enthusiastic for a 5th title in a row

Ahly

The team has gone through a less than satisfying period during which they lost a huge amount of points during the league, crashed out of the champions league, had their legendary manager leaving and are risking ending the season without a single title after the huge failure in the world cup.

However, the team got back to winning ways lately and managed to fix things before they get even worse.

After grabbing the 3 points from al geish’s match in the last minutes, the team goes into the game with a high morale; however, they are going to miss Barakat for injury and maybe Ahmed Hassan after his car crash, rather than that everyone will be there.

As usual, they are going to play more in defense and strike with counter attacks, a strategy that proved very efficient in previous matches; their weak point however is their keeper Ramzy Saleh, one never know what to expect next from him.

Probable line-up: ramzy saleh, wael gomaa, ahmed el sayed, shady Mohamed, ahmed fathi, hossam ashour, ahmed Hassan, Gilberto, abu trika, flavio, osma hosni

Ismaily

Their season turned downside up after the game against Ahly in the second round; following their victory, the team achieved a victory after the other and climbed to the top of the table.

Their style of play is a joy to watch simulating Brazilian skills, short passes and team work and they excel, especially against Ahly.

They are going to miss two of their main players: Omar Gamal and Mohamed Fadl which will affect their attacking force; however, the good thing about Ismaily is that they always have new home grown talents.

Surely the players are going to fight for the title which will be, if they won, their fourth in the history of the club since the last one in 2002.

Probable line-up: Mohamed sobhy, motasem salem, Dario kan, ibrhim yehhia, sheriff abdel fadil, ahmed khairy, Mohamed homos, ahmed samir farag, Abdullah el saeed, mostafa kareem, abu greisha

Here are their two clashes this year

First round

Second round

Prediction: may the better team win

All I hope is that no NT player is injured; we don’t need insult to be added to injury!!!