Ahly – Zamalek: derby preview………..again!!!

In less than a week we will be enjoying another cairo derby between ahly and zamalek. This time it will be the super cu and the match will be more open; thus, more exciting and entertaining, the question is will ahly win the second round or will zamalek gives his rival a knock out??

This time the two giants won’t be playing for three points but they will be playing for a cup. The team which will emerge victorious will add a title to their history. However, each team will be having their own motivations and objectives from the game.

Ahly will aim at continuing their success in derbies and continuing with their record of continuous victories over zamalek as well as starting the season with a title. on the other hand, this game for zamalek is “to be or not to be” one; first because it is totally unacceptable thing to lose two derbies in one week, second because of all what the club has gone through during this week from sopping the elections and fans protest against mortada. If they win a lot of things will be changed for the better but if they lose, well……!!!

Both teams will enjoy their new signings who were not registered in the African roster. In ahly, yasser el mohamady, ahmed hassan farag, hani el egeezy and Hussein ali will be playing for their place next season. While alaa kamal, mahmoud sami,amr adel and brazilian richardinho are largely anticipated by zamalek fans.

Absentees are non-existent within ahly players unless manuel jose decides not to play with abu trika and meteb. While zamalek will be missing a lot of essential layers like gamal hamza, shikabala, ahmed ghanem sultan, abd el halim ali and Mohamed abu el ela for either suspension or injury. Also amr zaki was supposed to play the game if wigan didn’t send an official fax requesting that amr shall not participate.

Preparing for the game, ahli played with its reserves against police and lost 1-0 while zamalek played against malyet kafr el zayat and tied 3-3. both were having a closed training camp; zamalek in 6th of October city and ahly at its headquarters in gezira.

The match

I think that the match will be open given that a draw won’t make any use for any of the clubs. They must score, so both will be attacking and strikers will have to say their word in the match.

However, the midfield battle again will be very decisive as zamalek will play with ahmed magdy, ayman abd el aziz and Mohamed ibrahim while ahly will field ahmed hassan, hossam ashour and probably Hussein ali.

Hani said 98% will start from the beginning as zamalek;s sweeper which gives a good boost to zamalek’s defense. But zamalek’s attack won’t be as powerful because of the absence of its stars gamal hamza and shikabala.

On the other hand, ahly’s attack will be reinforced with 3 of great talents in the form of Hussein yasser, ahmed hassan farag and hani el egeezy.

Last time the wings battle was the key to ahly’s victory. This time zamalek has added a new talented Brazilian left winger; richardinho. It will be his first match in Egypt so we will be seeing what he has to offer. on the other hand, Gilberto may not feature in this match because of an injury. I guess Mohamed Abdullah is thanking Allah now;-)

There is a possibility that the match goes to penalties. in this case abd el monsef is better than amir abd el hamid in penalties but that isn’t for sure.

Probable formations

Ahly
…………………………….amir abd el hamid……………………..
………..wael gomaa………shady Mohamed……ahmed el sayed…..
Mohamed barakat..hossam ashour…ahmed hassan…anis boujelban…????
…………………………..flavio…………emad meteb………………

Zamalek

…………………………………abd el monsef……………………….
……………….amr el safty………hani said………mahmoud fathallah…
Mohamed Abdullah…ahmed magdy….ayman abd el aziz…Mohamed ibrahim
………………………….ajojo…………….mostafa gaafar

Prediction: u tell me???

Good luck with watching the game. It will be on (nilesat on esc1, modern sport and art), I don’t know if u are watching from outside the middle east, sorry.