Report by Dr. Talal Osman
Bencherqi shines as Al Ahly thrash rivals Al Zamalek to reignite title aspirations
Moroccan striker Achraf Bencharki hit a stunning double and laid on a key assist for Hossam “El‑Shahat” as defending champions Al Ahly romped to a 3–0 victory over hosts Al Zamalek on Friday, breathing fresh life into their Egyptian Premier League title hopes.
Bencharki puts the Red Devils ahead
Bencharki opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a powerful header from a cross by Taher Mohamed Taher, but refrained from overt celebrations in front of the stands of his former club.
He then crafted the second goal with a delicate through‑pass that El‑Shahat finished with a classic lob over the keeper around the 31st‑32nd minute, giving the visitors a comfortable 2–0 lead at the break.
Missed penalties and the final blow
Both teams missed penalties in the second half: Hossam Abdel‑Magid for Al Zamalek, and then captain Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguyeh” for Al Ahly, underlining the immense pressure of the Cairo “derby” game.
The decisive blow came in the 74th minute, when Bencharki completed his brace after a one‑two with Imam Ashour, sending the Al Ahly bench into delirium and the Cairo International Stadium into a frenzy.
Title‑race reshuffle
With this win, Al Ahly lifted their tally to 47 points, moving into third place, just three points behind league leaders Al Zamalek, who remain on 50 points, and Pyramids FC, who are second and also on 47 points before the final two rounds of the Championship Group.
Pyramids keep title race open
Elsewhere, Pyramids FC kept the title fight alive with a 3–2 win over visiting Enppi, taking their points to 50 points with just two matchdays remaining in the battle group. [web‑source]
Smouha’s essentials in Port Said
In the same match window, Al Masry of Port Said edged hosts Ceramica Cleopatra 1–0 thanks to a superb long‑range strike by Omar Al‑Saai, who caught Cleopatra keeper Mohamed Bassam off his line and rifled the ball into the net in the 75th minute.
The win left Al Masry in fourth place on 43 points, three ahead of their port‑city rivals in fifth, while denying Ceramica a chance to climb into the crucial third‑place spot in the Championship Group. [web‑source]
This weekend’s matches have turned the Egyptian title race into a three‑horse battle, with Al Ahly’s psychological and tactical dominance over Al Zamalek offering a clear sign that the Red Devils are back in the hunt for the 2025/2026 Egyptian crown.
