Egyptian Premier League back on track with big games

Hosam el-Badry will be looking to maintain Ahly’s 6-point lead Cairo – Hosam al-Sayed Week three of Egypt's Premier League resumes on Thursday with some strong fixtures in both groups.Smouha will host Al Ahly in Alexandria. After suffering a string of bad results they will be looking to return to form against Cairo’s defending champions, who are leading the table by six points after seeing off Ghazl el-Mahalla and Wadi Degla in recent weeks.
But Al Ahly are not without their own problems. Team favourites Hosam Ghali and Sayed Moawad are both out of action due to injuries. These losses will be felt all the more acutely after the club loaned off Moammed Aboutrika, Ahmed Fathi and Mohammed Nagui.
Manager Hosam el-Badry has urged players to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table.
El-Badry is expected to kick off the match against Smouha with the same winning line-up from the Wadi Degla match, with Ahmed Abd el-Zaher taking part following Sayed Hamdi and Emad Meteab’s unlucky spells.
Youngster Ahmed Nabil has also been training at right-back as Ahmed Sedik will not see action due to injury.
Smouha manager Shawki Gharib is meanwhile hoping the Ahly fixture will be a turning point for his team, having spent 40m EPG bolstering his squad with new signings Mohammed Fadl, Moataz Eno, Ihab el-Masry and Abdel Aziz Tawfik.
Gharib reckons Al Ahly are an easier team to play because of their more open style of play.
The match kicks off at 1930 hours at Alexandria’s Border Guards Stadium.
Alexandrian club al-Ittihad al-Sakandary will meanwhile face the Army Vanguards at the Military Academy Stadium in Cairo at 1700 hrs.
The fixture is important for both teams as al-Ittihad manager Ahmed Sari will be looking for a win after two consecutive defeats at Ismaili and Zamalek. The Vanguards are also hoping to end a losing streak after their recent Ismailia defeat.