Ukraine, Egypt explore preferential trade deal: Zelenskyy    Egypt, Russia's Rosatom review grid readiness for El-Dabaa nuclear plant    Mastercard Unveils AI-Powered Card Fraud Prevention Service in EEMEA Region, Starting from Egypt    Global tour for Korean 'K-Comics' launches in Cairo with 'Hellbound' exhibition    China's factory output expands in June '25    Egyptian pound climbs against dollar at Wednesday's close    New accords on trade, security strengthen Egypt-Oman Relations    Egypt launches public-private partnership to curb c-sections, improve maternal, child health    Gaza under Israeli siege as death toll mounts, famine looms    EMRA, Elsewedy sign partnership to explore, develop phosphate reserves in Sebaiya    Philip Morris Misr announces new price list effective 1 July    Egypt Post discusses enhanced cooperation with Ivorian counterpart    Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa    Egypt in diplomatic push for Gaza truce, Iran-Israel de-escalation    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Egypt, Tunisia discuss boosting healthcare cooperation        Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Preview: Zamalek need more spark against debutants NBE in Egyptian league
Published in Ahram Online on 25 - 04 - 2021

Under Jaime Pacheco, Zamalek fans often complained of their side's wastefulness. It's the other way around under his successor, Patrice Carteron, as the team often get the job done but struggle to create openings.
Leaders Zamalek meet debutants National Bank of Egypt (NBE) on Monday with the aim of maintaining their six-point lead over Ahly, even though the defending champions still have three games in hand.
Zamalek are fresh from beating El-Entag El-Harby 2-0 on Thursday, with Ahly's surprise 2-1 loss to Smouha a day earlier reviving their hopes of challenging their perennial rivals all the way.
But the White Knights' fans were still worried that their team had not created enough chances against Entag. They scored two-first half goals after taking full advantage of some naïve mistakes from their opponents.
Otherwise, they were largely toothless upfront, with Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki providing the only flashes of spark throughout.
Zamalek were more creative under Portuguese Pacheco even though they lacked a cutting edge, which cost them dear. Carteron's side are more clinical but less imaginative.
"This is the irony of football. Can't we have both?" asked one Zamalek fan on Facebook.
Although NBE are struggling at the wrong end of the table, lying third from bottom with 14 points, Zamalek can't afford to underestimate them as they are one of the few teams who held Ahly to a draw back in January.
Zamalek will miss veteran left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, who was one of their best performers in the past two games after recovering from a lengthy injury lay-off, after he tested positive for COVID-19.
However, they welcome back winger Mahmoud Shikabala, right-back Hazem Emam and playmaker Youssef Ibrahim after they recovered from minor complaints.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.