• 07:39
  • Thursday ,02 January 2020
العربية

Preview: Unstoppable Ahly in a league of their own

by Al Ahram

Sports

00:01

Thursday ,02 January 2020

Preview: Unstoppable Ahly in a league of their own

 The question now is who can stop Ahly s relentless march towards a fifth consecutive Egyptian Premier League triumph.

The Red Devils, who entertain struggling Maqassa on Wednesday, have made their best start to a season in over a decade and it s hard to imagine them giving away the title.
They won their opening eight matches, recording comprehensive victories in most of them as their main challengers, including perennial Cairo rivals Zamalek, faltered badly.
They scored a staggering 23 goals and conceded only once, underlining their strength and the gulf in class between Egypt s most successful outfit and their competitors.
Ahly sit top with a maximum 24 points, two ahead of second-placed and surprise package Arab Contractors, who played two games more.   
Maqassa are unlikely to pose a serious threat to Ahly, given their poor start to the season.
The club, who are managed by former Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma striker Mido, lie 15th in the 18-team table with nine points, just one clear of the relegation zone.
Pressure is mounting on Mido, although club officials reiterated that his job was safe.
Ahly will once again have to do without some key players against Maqassa due to injuries, including attacking midfielder Hussein El-Shahat, Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi and influential winger Ramadan Sobhi, who faces several weeks on the sidelines.
Defender Ayman Ashraf also misses out due to automatic suspension.