Egypt Premier League: Top two both win as Zamalek hold slender lead

Top two both win

There was no change at the top of the Egypt Premier League after the top two sides, Zamalek and Al Ahly, were victorious.

Zamalek hammer National Bank

League leaders Zamalek won convincingly, 4-1 against National Bank, to remain three points ahead of rivals Al Ahly, who have two games in hand.

4 goals with 4 different celebrations 😍
Which one is your favorite? 🏹#Zamalek #MostTitledIn20C pic.twitter.com/pmK5yq4RMm

— Zamalek SC English (@ZSCOfficial_EN) April 26, 2021

The match

Youssef Obama scored his eighth league goal of the season after just seven minutes, before Hamid Ahadad doubled the hosts’ lead 11 minutes later. Ahadad added a third just before half time to finish the game as a contest.

Assem Salah pulled one back from the spot for National Bank midway through the second half but their slim hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Mohamed Bassiouny was sent off in the 76th minute.

Ahmed Sayed completed the rout with a penalty in stoppage time. Zamalek have 39 points from 17 games, and have won their last two after defeat to rivals Al Ahly. Patrice Carteron’s men can stretch their lead to six points again, as they face Al Mokawloon before Al Ahly play.

What it means

National Bank are second bottom with just two wins from 18 games. They are still only two points away from safety despite losing their last three games.

Al Ahly edge past Al Masry

Al Ahly had to work a bit harder for their three points, after a 2-1 win against fourth-placed side Al Masry.

The match

Mohamed Sherif opened the scoring for Pitso Mosimane’s side after 11 minutes, before Omar Kamal levelled on the stroke of half-time. Sherif notched his ninth goal of the season with a crucial winning goal in the 63rd minute.

𝕆𝕦𝕣 𝔼𝕒𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕆𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝔾𝕠𝕖𝕤 𝕋𝕠 🥁🥁🥁

𝓜𝓸𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓢𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓯

#YallaYaAhly pic.twitter.com/iQc6xQQR6z

— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) April 27, 2021

What it means

Al Ahly have won 11 of their 15 league games, but still trail Zamalek by three points with two games in hand. They face El Gouna on Friday night. Al Masry are fourth with 29 points, having lost two of their last three games.