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Preview: Depleted Zamalek in a make-or-break Champions League tie Zamalek may have to do with just three players on the bench in a must-win home tie against TP Mazembe at 21:30 CLT (19:30 GMT)
A severly depleted Zamalek side will have no option but to beat Group A leaders TP Mazembe if they are to keep their CAF Champions League semi-final qualification chances alive when both sides clash at Alexandria Stadium on Sunday. Following a dismal group stage run that saw them lose twice away from home to Congo's Vita Club and Mazembe, Zamalek are languishing at the bottom of their group with only three points from three games. The Cairo giants will now be looking to avenge three successive defeats at the hands of DR Congo's Mazembe, who also managed to beat them twice in the group stage of the 2012 Champions League edition, to avoid an early continental setback. Despite losing the domestic league title to arch-rivals Ahly in a disappointing fashion after looking favorites to end their 10-year drought, Zamalek will still be entering the game in buoyant mood after clinching a second successive Egypt Cup trophy. The White Knights will also be boosted by some new summer signings, who are expected to be handed a starting role, after bringing in highly-rated keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi, defender Ahmed Dweidar, versatile midfielder Mohamed Koffi and striker Khaled Qamar. Zamalek manager Mido, however, may find himself in the unenviable position of having just a handful of substitutes on the bench after ditching nearly six players registered in the Champions League - in addition to the suspension of another three. Long-serving veteran keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, defender Mahmoud Fathallah, right-back Ahmed Samir, midfielder Nour El-Sayed and main striker Ahmed Gaafar were all shown the door after failing to convince this season. Moreover, winger Hazem Emam, who scored the winner against Smouha in the Egypt Cup final, Mauritanian forward Dominique da Silva and keeper Mahmoud 'Gennesh' have all been suspended for confronting the referee after the final whistle of the 1-0 defeat at Mazembe. Zamalek were believed to have been extremely frustrated with Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey, with the whole bench running directly towards the official to confront him right after the game as Dominique, Emam and Gennesh were charged by CAF. Dominique, signed for free after being offloaded by Ahly in the winter break, will be absent till the end of the group stage after being banned for three games as Emam and Gennesh were suspended for one game each. Compounding their woes, Zamalek will also have to do without midfielder Ahmed Tawfik due to automatic suspension while Islam Awad remains out of favor. Even so, Zamalek will be determined to clinch all three points against their Congolese opponents, whom they last beat in the 2002 semis before going on to win the last of their five Champions League titles. But will still have to cope with the absence of their home fans despite initial attempts to allow a limited number of supporters to cheer on their side. "Mazembe are not fearsome at all; it's just poor refereeing which deprived us of a positive result in our last meeting," Zamalek's attacking midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim, who is strongly linked with a summer mover to Portugal's Martimo, told the club's official website ahead of the match. "We will be playing for nothing else but all three points." Mido, who became the youngest ever Egyptian coach to win a trophy after leading Zamalek to the Egypt Cup last week, will also be keen to avoid any further disappointment after the board has reportedly agreed to keep him at the helm. Mazembe are on top of the group with six points, whereas Vita Club and Sudan's Hilal – who face off in the same day – have four. (For more sports newsandupdates,followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebook atAhramOnlineSports). http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/107157.aspx
