CR Belouizdad win the derby to strengthen their place at the top

CR Belouizdad made an early statement with a win over JS El Biar in the capital derby on Monday, played as the opening match of the fifth round. The victory strengthened their position at the top of the Ligue 1 professionnelle standings and reflected the club’s ambitions.

Played at Omar Benrabah Stadium in Dar El Beïda, the match produced five goals and plenty of tension. Ben Hamouda opened the scoring in the first minute, capitalising on a joint mistake by the home team’s goalkeeper and defender Abdat.

The result extends an impressive start to the season for CR Belouizdad: they have 13 points from a possible 15 and have now won four in a row, following a draw against ASO Chlef in the first round. The club’s stated aim is to reclaim the league title, which has been absent from its honours list since 2023.

JS El Biar, meanwhile, are finding their first season among the elite difficult. They have four points after five rounds.