Under-pressure Al Ahly aim to halt winless run against in-form Ceramica Cleopatra

Al Ahly will try to snap a three-match winless streak in the Egyptian Premier League when they face an in-form Ceramica Cleopatra side at Cairo Stadium on Friday evening.

The Red Devils are enduring one of their poorest starts in recent memory and go into the game sitting 16th on the table with just six points from five matches.

Ahly’s season opened with a 2-2 draw against Modern Sport before a 4-1 victory over Pharco FC, their only win so far.

A goalless draw with Ghazl El-Mahalla and a 2-0 loss to Pyramids FC prompted the exit of Spanish coach José Riveiro, replaced by interim boss Emad El-Nahass.

However, the change has yet to produce an upturn, with a 1-1 draw against Enppi on Sunday extending the club’s winless run.

The Cairo giants will also be without key midfielders. Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed remains sidelined by a groin injury, while Emam Ashour, who had just returned from a three-month absence, has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A and is ruled out for several weeks.

Ashour’s setback is a major blow to El-Nahass, who had hoped the midfielder would drive the team’s recovery amid inconsistent displays from Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane.

There is some relief for the interim coach, with defenders Yassin Marei and Yasser Ibrahim returning to reinforce a backline that has conceded six goals in five games.

Yet Ceramica, managed by Ali Maher, arrive with momentum after three straight victories over Enppi, Arab Contractors and Smouha.

With South African striker Fagrie Lakay, Moroccan playmaker Ahmed Belhadj and winger Eslam Issa in form, a fourth successive win could propel them to third place and deepen the champions’ early-season crisis.