Champions Al-Ahly, who have already won their sixth successive title this season with 60 points after beating Mansoura 3-0 in Cairo last week, host Ismaili in an exhibition game in Cairo Monday night. The champions can afford to relax in Monday night's match, despite its importance for them, as they want to make sure of the players ahead of the clash against Ittihad of Libya, who beat Ahly 2-0 in Tripoli last month. The Red Devils meet Ittihad of Libya later this month in Cairo in their African Champions League second-leg last 16 fixture. Al-Ahly defender Wael Gomaa brands his side's match with Ittihad as the 'most important game' for the Red Devils this season. The Egyptian champions cut short their league title celebrations to prepare for the African tie. "The meeting with Ittihad is our most important game this season. Our delight at the domestic triumph will be tarnished if we fail to progress in the Champions League," he says. Al-Ahly need to beat Ittihad by a three-goal margin in order to qualify for the continental competition's group stage. "We all know how important this game is and the coaching staff keep urging us to concentrate fully on it," Gomaa adds. The 34-year-old footballer suffered an injury to his head in the first leg in Libya when he was hit by a stone that was thrown from the stands. Gomaa's wound needed four stitches and Ittihad's officials apologised for the unfortunate incident. In related news, former coach Manuel Jose praised Ahly's influential duo Mohamed Abou Treika and Mohamed Barakat, revealing that the latter is his favourite player. It was widely believed that Egypt playmaker Abou Treika was Jose's favourite footballer, but the Portuguese manager has now admitted otherwise. "Barakat's my favourite player," the highly rated coach told Nile Sports over the phone. "Barakat is a fantastic player and a fantastic man. The man is my friend for life. "Abou Treika is a genius, but Barakat is my favourite player and he helped make me a famous coach in Egypt and the Middle East." Barakat, 33, joined Ahly from Qatari side Arabi in 2004 to help the Cairo giants win a multitude of titles under the management of Jose. Considered to be the best coach in Ahly's history, Jose took charge of Angola ahead of this year's African Cup of Nations. However, the 64-year-older quitted his job after the hosts' elimination from the quarterfinals at the hands of eventual runners-up Ghana. Meanwhile, Ismaili, who are playing in the African championship, are eyeing second place in the local league. The Canal-based club currently lie in fourth place with 43 points. Ismaili's coach Emad Soleiman says the game will be a difficult since Ahly's morale is obviously sky high and they'll be playing in front of their fans at home. In the Canal city of Port Said, El-Masri host Zamalek on Monday in the same competition. Zamalek, also hoping to be runners-up this season, have 48 points, while El-Masri lie in 11th place with 32 points. Zamalek's former midfielder and current board member Hazem Imam says that finishing runners-up is enough for the club this season, but next season the White Shirts will snatch the title under the helm of veteran coach Hossam Hassan, who has really turned the side around this season.
