The Botola battle for the CAFCC spot will resume this weekend with a head-to-head clash between Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the two teams. This leaves us worried not only about the result but also the quality of the match that will be on show.

Wydad Casablanca Probable XI: El Motie; El Amloud, Harkass, Farhane, Gaddarine; Jabrane, Haimoud; Lahtimi, Amar, El Houni; Oguns (4-2-3-1).

RS Berkane Probable XI: El Ouaad; Baadi, Assal, Dayo, El Moussaoui; Camara, Khairi; El Fahli, Zghoudi, El Morabit; Mehri (4-2-3-1).

What is at Stake?

Berkane Stadium

RS Berkane is third in the league with 30 points. Wydad and FUS Rabat follow closely with 28 points each. RSB’s hopes of breaking into the top two for the first time are over as FAR and Raja are far and away in their title contest. On the other hand, Wydad’s run of CAFCL qualifications surely appears to have come to an end. This leaves the CAFCC spot as the main aspiration for these two clubs this season.

But they both come into it poor form. RS Berkane has only scored one goal in the three matches since the resumption of Botola. Wydad has lost two of their set of matches, on the other hand. This, rightfully, has forced changes to the technical benches of both teams. RSB has brought two-time CAFCL winner, Moine Chaabani, as coach while Wydad was shocked by the resignation of Faouzi Benzarti after their last match.

With these changes we expect a cautious encounter between the two. And definitely very light on experiments and adjustments to their respective starting XIs. RS Berkane actually hasn’t been that bad outside of playing style. Their CAFCC campaign is progressing well and their domestic performance is what you expect from them. Unless Chaabani wants to go with experience and therefore slot in an Arjoune in midfield, we don’t expect changes to RSB’s lineup.

Wydad has a different problem. They’ve tried all sorts of combinations but none have stuck. The so-called big names like El Houni and Ounajem have not come to the party. The likes of Lahtimi and El Bahri have also blown hot and cold. The Casablanca side signed new players in January as a result but it waits to be seen if Oguns and Amar are the cure to their quality issues.

Prediction

Wydad Casablanca 0-0 RS Berkane

The encounters between these two have been relatively even in recent past. So we expect a close match. The poor goal scoring form of Berkane and the changes to the technical benches of the duo point to a draw unless they’re separated by a penalty or a set piece.