In the buildup to the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final, RS Berkane readies itself to host Zamalek at Stade Municipal de Berkane on Sunday.
The home team aims to capitalize on their recent 3-2 victory over Moghreb Tetouan at the same venue in the Moroccan Botola Pro.
Issoufou Dayo, Youssef Mehri, and Djibril Ouattara found the net for the Orange, while Hamza Ghatas and Pape Badji scored for the visiting team.
Meanwhile, Zamalek suffered a setback with a 1-0 defeat away to Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League, courtesy of Abubakar Liadi's 53rd-minute strike.
El Nady El Malaky's attention shifts to the continental stage after securing their spot in the final with a convincing 3-0 aggregate victory over Dreams in the last four. Berkane advanced to the final with a 6-0 aggregate win over USM Alger, who withdrew due to political differences.
Berkane vs Zamalek Head-to-Head
Both teams clashed in the final of the 2018-19 CAF Confederation Cup, with Zamalek emerging victorious with a 5-3 penalty shootout win at home following 1-0 wins for each team in their respective stadiums.
Form Guide
Berkane (all competitions): W-L-W-W-W
Zamalek (all competitions): L-W-W-D-W
Team News
Berkane
No injury or suspension concerns for Berkane.
Zamalek
Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh and Mohamed Abdelshafy are sidelined due to ACL injuries.
Injuries: Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, Mohamed Abdelshafy
Predicted XI
Berkane Predicted XI (4-4-2): Hamza Akbi Hamiani (GK); Amine El Maswab, Adil Tahif, Abdelhak Assal, Hamza Semmoumy; Youssef Mehri, Omar Arjoune, Mohamed El Morabit, Youssef El Fahli; Oussama Lamiloui, Yassine Labhiri
Zamalek Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mohamed Awad (GK); Ahmed Fatouh, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Hamza Mathlouthi, Omar Gaber; Ziad Kamal, Nabil Dunga; Mostafa Shalaby, Samson Akinyoola, Zizo; Seifeddine Jaziri
Prediction
RS Berkane aims to clinch silverware by triumphing in this encounter. They have been a dominant force in this competition in recent years, making it to three of the previous five finals and winning two.
Their only defeat in this period came at the hands of Zamalek, who claimed the trophy in 2019, marking the only time the Cairo-based outfit has won Africa's secondary cup competition.
Expect a tightly contested affair with both teams leaving it all on the field, leading to a low-scoring stalemate in the first leg, setting the stage for an intriguing second leg.
Prediction: Berkane 1-1 Zamalek
Kick Off at the Berkane Municipal Stadium on Sunday is at 19h00 GMT.
