Goals from Mohamed Hany and Monsef Bakrar secured victory for Al Ahly against Zamalek in the Cairo derby.
The win eased the pressure on coach Houcine Ammouta as it sent Al Ahly top of the league table.
Pyramids can reclaim top spot and move two points clear if they defeat Ceramica Cleopatra on Monday.
Meanwhile, Zamalek suffered their first defeat this season and dropped down to third, three points behind Al Ahly.
Al Ahly had more of the possession before the break but missed two early chances.
Emam Ashour sent a free header wide, before Sofiane Benjedida failed to hit the target from close range after a pin-point cross from Ahmed Zizo.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute. Hany’s low effort from 30 yards took a deflection on its way past Al Mahdy Soliman.
Zamalek threatened early in the second half, with Mostafa Shobeir producing a fine save to keep out Ahmed Sherif’s header.
Chico Banza then delivered a dangerous cross from the left, but Sherif failed to connect with the ball.
Substitute Monsef Bakrar put the game beyond Zamalek with 10 minutes remaining.
The Algeria international collected Zizo’s pass on the edge of the box, worked space for himself and drove a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Zamalek
Al Mahdi Soliman
Omar Gaber
Mohamed Ismail
Mahmoud El Wensh
Mahmoud Bentayg
Hossam Ashraf 74′
Mohamed Shehata
Ahmed Rabie
Ahmed Fatouh
Oday Dabbagh 79′
Abdalla El Said
Mohamed Hamad 66′
Ahmed Sherif
Ahmed Esho 74′
Chico Banza
Al Ahly
Mostafa Shobeir
Mohamed Hany
Yassin Marei
Achraf Dari
Tawfik Mohamed
Akram Tawfik
Ahmed Reda 90+5
Marwan Attia
Zizo
Taher Mohamed 84′
Emam Ashour
Omar El Saaiy 66′
Achraf Bencharki
Hussein El Shahat 84′
Soufiane Benjdida
Monsef Bakrar 66′
