It's that time of year again -- today's Cairo derby between Ahli and Zamalek, always an event worth watching. Ahmed Morsy previews the ever eventful clash Tension, passion and emotion, winners and losers: today's Cairo derby has the stuff which movies are made of -- and more. Egyptian football fans are hours away from a titanic domestic league clash between leaders Zamalek, who haven't won the title since 2004, and arch-rivals Ahli who have won six crowns in a row and are looking to make it seven. The derby is Egypt's answer to Real Madrid vs Barcelona and today's 106th meeting is no exception. The five-time African champions Zamalek, who are currently on brilliant form, and are now four points clear on top of the league table with 30 points, go into tonight's match-up flying high, having extended their winning streak to four straight matches after beating Ismaili, Misri, Ittihad and Wadi Degla. The derby is their chance for glory now that the league crown is tenable with almost half the season complete. Ahli, though, would like nothing better than to beat their cross-town rivals for a much needed boost to their morale after displaying notably below-par performances. Title holders Ahli are now in fourth place with 24 points, six behind Zamalek and the same number of matches played, each at 13. Historically, Ahli have beaten Zamalek 37 times, lost 25, with 43 draws. The top team in Egyptian football history, and voted the African club of the century, Ahli have held the championship trophy aloft at the end of 35 Egyptian league seasons. Zamalek claimed the league title 11 times, their last being in the 2003-2004 season. In the build-up to tonight's encounter in Cairo Stadium, Zamalek registered a precious 2-0 win at Wadi Degla on Friday. The colourful playmaker Shikabala, who wore the captaincy armband after goalie Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed presented it to him to squash rumours they had had a falling out, broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with an amazing strike. The fully-fit playmaker, arguably the best player in Egypt at present, manoeuvred a couple of defenders close to the edge of the area prior to sending a delightful arched shot over the head of Wadi Degla's goalkeeper who pointlessly progressed forward. The 24-year-old playmaker also whipped in an inch-perfect cross that enabled Ahli's former midfielder Hassan Mustafa to double Zamalek's lead with a diving header. Zamalek forward Hussein Yasser, a key component in his team's march to the title, is doubtful for the derby after joining up with the Qatar squad for the AFC Asian Cup. The Asian Cup is scheduled to start on the 7 January and Qatar will play two friendly matches against Iran and South Korea on December 28 and 31 respectively. Ahli played to a hard-fought 1-1 draw with the Arab Contractors on Saturday. Ahli were the superior side most of the match in terms of ball possession, however, could not convert their dominance into goals. In the 52nd minute, Arab Contractors forward Mohamed Salah broke the offside trap and also the deadlock by way of a long defence-splitting pass and latched onto it to go one-on-one with Ahli goalie Mahmoud Abul-Saoud who saw the ball squirm under his body and into the net. Consequently, Arab Contractors defended with intent in an attempt to preserve their slender lead and score their first win over Ahli in 15 years. But in the 92nd minute, Ahli's talented playmaker Ahmed Shoukri levelled the score from an oblique cross which fortuitously hit the back of the net. "I'm sure we will be in better form against Zamalek," Ahli's interim coach Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafi said during the post-match press conference. Abdel-Shafi, affectionately known as Zizo during his playing days, cited the capital derby as a possible reason why his players were not at their best while playing the Contractors. "Our match with Zamalek might have distracted them," he explained. Abdel-Shafi is likely to step down after the derby; that's what his brief contract stipulated when he took over last month following the sudden resignation of Hossam El-Badri. There are reports that management is willing to keep Abdel-Shafie beyond his contract if he beats Zamalek. But Ahli's four games under Abdel-Shafi are an underwhelming one win and three ties. As such, Ahli are on the lookout for a new foreign coach to take over in January. Manuel Jose, the former Ahli manager from Portugal is on top of the list after his sudden departure from Ahli Jeddah of Saudi Arabia. Under Jose in almost seven years, Ahli notched up 19 local, African and Arab titles, including four African Champion League crowns. The derby was postponed twice, once because of parliamentary elections on 28 November, then because of security concerns that 31 December would produce a rowdy New Year's Eve atmosphere.
