Al Ahly SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 victory over arch-rivals Zamalek SC in the Egyptian Premier League Championship Group clash, reshuffling the title race and putting themselves firmly back in contention.
Moroccan star Achraf Bencharki netted twice, while Hussein El Shahat added a third, securing three crucial points for Al Ahly. The win lifts the Red Devils to 47 points in third place, just behind Zamalek and Pyramids FC, who sit joint-top with 50 points.
Dominant First Half Sets the Tone
Al Ahly ended the first half with a comfortable two-goal lead following a balanced opening period in which both sides battled for control in midfield, each seeking an early breakthrough.
The deadlock was broken in the 18th minute when Achraf Bencharki rose to meet a cross with a powerful header that found the back of the net past goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman.
Following the opener, Al Ahly imposed greater control on the game, capitalizing on high pressing that forced defensive errors from Zamalek. This pressure paid off in the 32nd minute when Hussein El Shahat doubled the lead.
Zamalek attempted to respond before halftime, but Al Ahly’s defense held firm to preserve their clean sheet.
Missed Penalties and Continued Pressure
Zamalek came out determined in the second half, aiming to reduce the deficit. They were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute after a foul, but Hossam Abdelmaguid failed to convert.
Al Ahly were then handed a penalty of their own in the 65th minute following a VAR review for a handball, yet Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet also missed the opportunity.
Bencharki Seals the Victory
Al Ahly maintained their dominance, and in the 74th minute, Achraf Bencharki struck again to score his second goal of the match and Al Ahly’s third, effectively ending any hopes of a Zamalek comeback.
The remaining minutes saw attempts from both sides to add to the scoreline, but neither team managed to find the net again, as the referee blew the final whistle confirming a comprehensive 3-0 win for Al Ahly.
Team Lineups
Al Ahly, led by head coach Jes Torup, lined up as follows:
Goalkeeper: Mostafa Shobeir
Defense: Ahmed Ramadan Bekham, Hady Riad, Yassin Marei, Ahmed Nabil Koka
Midfield: Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Hussein El Shahat, Taher Mohamed Taher
Attack: Achraf Bencharki
Substitutes included: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Shokry, Aliou Dieng, Ahmed Eid, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Amr El Gazzar, Marwan Othman.
Zamalek, under coach Moatamed Gamal, started with:
Goalkeeper: El Mahdi Soliman
Defense: Mahmoud Bentayg, Mahmoud El Wensh, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Mohamed Ismail
Midfield: Mohamed Shehata, Ahmed Fotouh, Abdallah El Said
Attack: Juan Bezera, Nasser Mansi, Odai Dabbagh
Bench options included: Mohamed Awad, El Sayed Osama, Mohamed Ibrahim, Ahmed Abdelrahim “Isho”, Ahmed Rabie, Mohamed El Sayed, Adam Kaied, Chico Banza, Seif El Jaziri.
Title Race Intensifies
Al Ahly entered the match with a “must-win” mindset to keep their title hopes alive, especially after suffering a heavy defeat to Pyramids FC in the previous round.
Meanwhile, Zamalek came into the clash with high morale, sitting at the top of the table with 50 points and aiming to secure a positive result to edge closer to the title while maintaining their lead over Pyramids, who also reached 50 points after defeating ENPPI.
With this result, the Egyptian Premier League title race is wide open once again, as Al Ahly reassert themselves as serious contenders heading into the decisive final rounds.
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