Mouloudia Club d’Alger head into Friday’s meeting with JS Kabylie determined to reproduce the statement victory they delivered at the same venue last season, a success that remains vivid in the memory of their supporters.
The champions arrive for the 124th edition of the Clasico in commanding form after what was widely regarded as the most impressive result of the latest league round.
In a weekend that reshaped the title race, MCA collected a vital win through goals from Ferhat and Saliou Bangoura, a double that allowed the Algiers side to stretch their advantage over their nearest challengers.
That victory proved especially significant because several of their rivals dropped points.
CR Belouizdad were held in Oran by Mouloudia, while USM Alger failed to capitalise elsewhere, leaving the leaders eight points clear of the Soustara club despite having two games in hand.
With fixtures still to come against JSK, CS Constantine and ASO Chlef, the opportunity to open up an even more commanding lead — and to edge closer to a tenth league crown — is firmly within reach.
Coach Rulani Mokwena has made no secret of the objective: keep the chasing pack at arm’s length and sustain the momentum, even in the face of a growing injury list.
That ambition will be put to the test in Kabylia on Friday evening at 18:00, when MCA return to the Hocine-Aït Ahmed Stadium for only their second competitive outing at the arena.
The setting holds happy memories. On 1 October 2024, Mouloudia marked their first Clasico at the stadium with a famous away triumph.
Tabti broke the deadlock before Helaïmia added a second with a moment of quality that sealed a historic success.
That night not only silenced the home crowd but also reinforced MCA’s credentials as genuine champions, capable of imposing themselves far from Bab El-Oued.
This time, they travel as overwhelming favourites, seeking a third consecutive league win and eager to underline their authority.
Mokwena is expected to reshuffle his line-up for the rescheduled fixture, particularly after the physically demanding encounter with ES Sétif at the Ali-Ammar Stadium.
The task is complicated by the absence of several regulars, meaning Mouloudia will field a depleted side for one of Algerian football’s most fiercely contested fixtures.
Yet there is no shortage of motivation. Mehdi Boucherit, lively and influential in the previous outing, is pushing hard for a starting berth in attack, emblematic of a squad that has remained competitive regardless of personnel changes.
Their away form has been exemplary throughout the campaign, with only a single defeat — at Rouissat — blemishing an otherwise formidable record on the road.
For JS Kabylie, the match represents a chance for revenge and redemption in front of their own supporters.
For MCA, it is about far more than pride. Another victory in Tizi Ouzou would further distance CRB and USMA, tighten their grip on first place and bring them a step closer to the landmark tenth title their fans crave.
Everything now points towards a high-stakes encounter, with the champions intent on proving that last year’s triumph was no one-off, but the beginning of a new era of dominance in this storied rivalry.
