Zamalek are aiming at extending their league lead when they take on Ghazl El-Mahalla on Tuesday. As coach Jaime Pacheco is willing to test new methods in the absence of a classic striker in his squad.

The Portuguese tactician had to do without his main target man, Mostafa Mohamed. He who departed the team to join Turkish giants Galatasaray. Pacheco had to rely on different approaches using a false nine or alternating his scheme to fill the void.

Last weekend, Youssef “Obama” Ibrahim spearheaded the attack to a sparkling 4-1 win against Maqassa.

Despite signing two strikers before the closing of the January transfer window, Tunisian forward Sief El-Dine Jaziri from Arab Contractors and Marwan Hamdi from Maqassa, the 62-year-old coach decided not to include them in his squad. He opted to rely on youngsters Osama Faisal and Seif Farouk in the frontline.

Zamalek are leading the table with 23 points after nine games while Ghazl El-Mahalla are third from the bottom with only eight points after nine games.

Skipper and gifted winger Mahmoud “Shikabala” Abdel Razek and Tunisian full back Hamza Methlouthi will miss the game due to injuries.

Both teams have played 9 matches. El-Mahalla are in 14th place with 8 points after 4 losses, 5 draws and a single win. While the Whites lead the standings table with 23 points after defeatless run of seven victories and two ties.