Egypt's Ahly have little margin for error in a tight African Champions League group-stage race as they face Zimbabwe's Platinum away from home on Saturday afternoon. The record eight-time winners are locked with Tunisia's Etoile Sahel and Sudan's Al-Hilal on six points from three matches in Group A, with bottom side Platinum failing to bag a single point. Given that Platinum are offering little resistance, the top three are aware they must beat the Zimbabweans away from home to avoid falling behind in the race. Ahly easily got the job done in the home match, with a double from Walid Soliman giving them a 2-0 victory last month. Should they complete a double over Platinum, they will take a big step towards advancing to the knockout stage as they chase their first Champions League title sicne 2013. "We know everything about our opponents after facing them last month," Ahly coach Rene Weiler told the pre-match news conference. "Away African games are difficult but my players are experienced enough to deal with that." Platinum have recently appointed Dutchman Hendrik Pieter De Jongh as their new coach, replacing Norman Mapeza who departed in September last year. Ahly will continue to miss wingers Hussein El-Shahat and Ramadan Sobhi as well as defender Saad Samir, who are all injured. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
