LIVE: Al Masry SC v Zamalek SC | Derby | Egyptian League

Match Info:

Match K.O. at 20:15 Cairo local time (GMT+2)

Venue: Borg El-Arab Stadium

A new-look Zamalek side’s title credentials will be severely tested when they visit Hossam Hassan’s Masry at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Friday.

Having finally gotten back to winning ways with last a 3-0 win over Dakhleya last week, Zamalek will be keen to grab their second win of their new league season against the Port-Said side.

The Whites are not expected to have a walk in the park though, facing a club that managed to top the league table with two wins out of two.

And given how the Cairo giants struggled to overcome Masry with two narrow 1-0 victories in the league last season, they will be handed a fierce test against ex-manager Hossam Hassan this time around.

Having looked shaky at the back in their opening two league fixtures, Zamalek center-back duo Mohamed Magdi and Mahmoud Alaa would find it really hard to cope with the sheer physicality of Masri striker Aristide Bance.

The Burkinabe center-forward scored the winner against Petrojet last week and is his side’s target for long balls, which he continually wins, during their build-up play.

Zamalek, on the other side, will be hoping newly-signed striker Kabongo Kasongo would cause opposing defenders similar problems, with the Congolese hitman renowned for his strength and speed.

The Cairo side might find themselves against two former players against Masry, with defender Mohamed Koffi and playmaker Ahmed Eid all included in the coastal club’s squad.

Like last week’s game against Dakhleya, Zamalek manager Nebojsa Jovovic named a 20-man roster featuring only four defenders in the team’s backline.

Egypt center-back Ali Gabr and talented playmaker Ayman Hefni continue to miss out due to respective injuries, with newly-signed Ahmed Madbouli and Abdallah Gomaa there to deputize for the latter.

In addition to ex-Ittihad striker Kasongo, forwards Bassem Morsi, Khaled Kamar and Razack Cisse have all made the squad, with Benjamin Acheampong continuing to miss out with a groin injury.