Egyptian League LIVE: El Hodood v Al Ahly & Ismaily v Maqassa

Match K.O. at 21:00 Cairo local time
Venue: Haras El-Hodoud stadium, Alexandria
Referee: Tarek Magdi

Three days after their unconvincing 1-0 win over Wadi Degla, Ahly will resume their league campaign on Friday when they face promoted side Harras El-Hodoud in Alexandria.

Friday’s clash is set to be easy for the defending champions, who are bidding for their fourth straight league title and the 41st in their history.

French coach Patrice Carteron announced on Thursday his list for the Harras El-Hodoud clash, which saw the absence of the team’s veteran fullback Ahmed Fathi as the Frenchman continues his rotation strategy.

Injured duo winger Mido Gaber and international goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy will not be available for Friday’s clash.

Both sustained injuries during Ahly’s 1-0 win over Degla on Tuesday and they are yet to recover from their injuries.

With El-Shennawy’s injury, Sherif Ekrami will take his place between the sticks for the first time in months.

International defender Saad Samir feature in Carteron’s list after missing Degla’s clash and it is likely that he will regain his place beside Malian defender Salif Coulibaly at the expense of Mohamed Naguib.

“There are no easy games in the Egyptian League. Ahly are looking for the title and our strategy is to win all games to achieve our mission and to keep our title,” Ahly’s assistant coach told reporters on Thursday.

Ahly are second on the league table with seven points from three games.

On the other hand, promoted side Harras El-Hodoud have to fight fiercely against the defending champions on Friday.

El-Hodoud are third from bottom on the league table after conceding two defeats against Dakhleya and Intag Harby before drawing with Gouna to earn their single point on the league table so far.