Ahly will be aiming to go 10 points clear on top of the Egyptian Premier League when they meet an improving Tanta side on Monday as they edge closer to a ninth title in 10 seasons. The Red Devils are steadily marching towards a 39th league triumph, maintaining their dominance of domestic football. They only lost the title once in 10 seasons when arch rivals Zamalek were crowned champions in 2015. Zamalek, fourth in the table, are reeling this term and only have faint hopes to leapfrog second-placed Maqassa into the last African Champions League qualifying spot. They face a tough test against third-placed Masry, also on Monday. Ahly are on a run of six straight victories and have finally found a striker to rely on, with new recruit Souleymane Coulibaly quickly establishing himself after joining in January from Scottish side Kilmarnock. The Ivorian frontman scored three goals in as many league games, including a brace on his debut in the competition when Ahly crushed Dakhleya 4-0 early in April. Egypt and Africa's most successful outfit are expected to ease past Tanta, although the latter have improved of late, drawing with Enppi and beating Masry to move four points clear of the relegation zone. A win for Ahly will take them 10 points clear of surprise package Maqassa, whose winning run ended on Saturday when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Wadi Degla, a loss which was described by their highly-rated coach Ihab Galal as "bitter and cruel in this part of the season". Ahly, who have only conceded four goals so far this season, will be without central defender Ahmed Hegazy and winger Walid Soliman due to injuries. Veteran striker Emad Meteb remains out of favour amid speculation indicating that he would either retire or leave the club at the end of the season. Zamalek will be eyeing their second win under new Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio after they crushed Talae El-Geish 3-0 last week, snapping a record five-match winless run in the league. Masry have suffered a recent slump in form that saw them exit the African Confederation Cup after a shootout defeat by Uganda's KCCA before losing to Tanta in the domestic league. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
