Smouha take on the visitors Al Ahly in the round 24 match of Egyptian Premier League. The match will be played on Thursday, August 8th at Alexandria Stadium (Alexandria).
Smouha is having a very solid season, currently sitting in sixth place in the table, but with three matches remaining in the league, they could theoretically fight for the bronze medals and a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup zone. The "Blues" have no problems with scoring goals - in 31 Super League matches, they have netted 36 goals, with the overwhelming majority (23) coming on home turf. A match against Cairo's Al Ahly, the best club in Egypt's history, is always a significant event for any team in the country, especially when it’s a clash between Alexandria and Cairo. So, the hosts certainly won’t be sitting back in defense, waiting for a defeat from the visitors. In the last ten rounds, Smouha has only failed to score in two matches, both of which were away. At home, the "Blues" have scored in 14 out of 15 league matches this season.
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It's highly likely they will score against the future champions because the future (and current) champions have not been defending perfectly this season. Yes, they concede slightly less than a goal per game on average, but 24 goals in 30 matches is quite a lot for a team like Al Ahly. As for the gold medals, it’s safe to say they are already in the "Red Devils’" hands, just waiting to be officially secured. Let's assume their rival in the title race, Pyramids, wins both of their remaining matches. Even then, Al Ahly only needs to earn two points from their four matches to clinch the title. So, even a loss to Smouha and a win in their next home game would officially crown the "Red Devils" champions again. They won't intentionally lose the away match in Alexandria, but the thought of celebrating the championship at home in front of their fans has probably crossed the minds of the players. In July, Al Ahly conceded against Ceramica Cleopatra (4-1), Future FC Cairo (2-1), Pyramids (3-2), and even El Dakhleya (4-1)
Smouha has been good in attack this season, averaging more than a goal per game, and specifically at home, they score about 1.5 goals every 90 minutes. The Alexandrians are motivated for the remainder of the season, aiming for a top-four finish. On the other hand, the capital's players, given their very comfortable position, can afford to relax as the season winds down. Even a draw or a loss in this match wouldn't be a disaster for the team that can secure another championship at home three days later. A conceded goal certainly wouldn’t upset the "Red Devils." What am I getting at? Smouha is strong enough at home to trouble even the best team in the country at least once. Notably, Al Ahly has conceded in two of their last three encounters with this opponent in Alexandria, losing those matches (0-3 and 2-3). My prediction is a bet on Smouha to score over 0.5 goals (ITB1 0.5). With such good odds, it's worth taking the bet on the hosts scoring.
Prediction for the match: Smouha to score – yes.
