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Al-Ahram Weekly

Preview: Ahly seek to maintain winning rhythm against Masry in tough league clash - Egyptian Football

Defending champions Ahly will be desperate for a win on Thursday when they face Masry in a league game at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium, as the Red Devils cannot afford to drop any points in their tight title race with Pyramids FC Ahly currently sit second in the table with 46 points, just one point behind leaders Pyramids FC, who handed the Red Devils a boost by losing to Pharco FC on Sunday. Pyramids FC will also face a tough challenge on Friday when they visit Ceramica Cleopatra. Ahly will be without the support of their fans, after the competitions committee sanctioned the club to play two matches behind closed doors—a significant blow during this crucial period of the season. Nevertheless, Ahly capitalized on Pyramids' stumble by routing Harras El-Hodoud 5–0, narrowing the gap to just one point. The match featured a strong performance from the team under interim coach Emad El-Nahass, who took over from Swiss manager Marcel Koller last month. El-Nahass's debut was far from easy, as Ahly edged Petrojet 3–2 in a thrilling encounter before the dominant victory over Harras El-Hodoud. However, Masry present a tougher challenge than Ahly's previous two opponents. Even without their Algerian star Abderrahim Deghmoum, the Port Said-based team remains strong with players like Mahmoud Hamada, Salah Mohsen, and Mido Gaber. 'Our target is to maintain our winning rhythm in this difficult league campaign,' Ahly interim coach Emad El-Nahass told reporters. El-Nahass has a full squad available, with the exception of veteran defender Rami Rabia, who is likely to miss the game due to an injury sustained in the win over Harras El-Hodoud. On the other side, Masry are led by Tunisian coach Anis Boujelbene, a former Ahly midfielder during the early 2000s. Masry have already held both Pyramids FC and Zamalek to goalless draws in the playoffs and are hoping to secure another positive result against another title contender. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: