Preview: Buoyant Ahly aim to move step closer to 8th straight title

Ahly will come within touching distance of an eighth successive league title if they beat Petrojet on Wednesday

Despite an inconsistent season hindered with a backroom change and stunning African champions League elimination, Ahly will move closer to wrapping up an eighth successive Egyptian league title if they defeat Petrojet on Wednesday.
The Red Devils are in a buoyant mood after heaping more Cairo derby misery on arch-rivals Zamalek, beating them 1-0 in their first match of a four-team mini-league phase with only home fixtures to determine the league champion.
Ahly, who have not lost to Zamalek since 2007, got the better of their bitter foes with a starting line-up that mainly comprised of promising youngsters, who made up for the absence of a host of key players through injury.
"I'm very happy to have taken part in such a high-profile match. The victory will put us closer to another league triumph," Ramadan Sobhi, a 17-year-old playmaker who is likened to Ahly great Mohamed Abou-Treika, told the club's official website.
Sobhi and fellow youngster Karim Bambo outpaced Zamalek's midfielders and defenders, leaving them chasing shadows with a series of catchy feints and precise passes.
Few predicted that Ahly would have the upper hand over Zamalek, with some inconsistent displays in Group A of the league's new format and the sacking of coach Mohamed Youssef last May casting doubts over their title credentials.
However, despite producing some unconvincing displays, they labored to vital victories after taking full advantage of weak challenges from their rivals.
Petrojet will be equally desperate to claim all three points after slumping to a 4-1 defeat by Alexandria-based club Smouha, one of the few Egyptian sides to show attacking flair this season.
Smouha, inspired by Egypt playmaker Ahmed Hammoudi, are hoping to break the hegemony of Ahly and Zamalek and become the first non-Cairo club to win Egypt's premier club competition since 2002.
Zamalek are reeling following their loss against Ahly which dented their hopes of ending a 10-year league drought amid uncertainty over the future of rookie coach Mido, who was tasked with turning around the fortunes of the ailing Cairo giants.
If Ahly defeat Petrojet and Smouha fail to beat Zamalek in Wednesday's penultimate round, A draw for Ahly against Smouha in their final match will be enough to hand them an eighth consecutive title.
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