Botola Pro: Wydad seek rebound as Raja begin their campaign against Zemamra

18:30

The second round of Morocco’s Botola Pro season continues on Saturday with four fixtures offering an early test of form, consistency and ambition. Among the main storylines, Wydad Casablanca will look to recover from a disappointing opening defeat, while Raja Casablanca finally enters the competition after its first-round fixture was postponed.

The schedule also brings together Maghreb Fès and Hassania Agadir, two sides that started the campaign with victories, while COD Meknès will attempt to build on its emphatic opening-day success against Kawkab Marrakech.

Maghreb Fès and Hassania Agadir meet in Mohammedia

The day begins at 4 p.m. with a meeting between Maghreb Fès and Hassania Agadir at Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia.

Both clubs arrive with three points after winning their opening matches. Defending champions Maghreb Fès overcame Renaissance Zemamra 2-1, recovering from a difficult contest to secure a positive start. Hassania Agadir, meanwhile, produced an entertaining 3-2 victory away to Kawkab Marrakech.

Saturday’s encounter therefore offers an early opportunity for either side to establish itself among the leading teams. A second consecutive victory would give the winner valuable momentum at a very early stage of the championship.

Wydad face an early test at El Jadida

At 6 p.m., Difaâ El Jadida will host Wydad Casablanca in a match involving two teams still searching for their first points.

Difaâ El Jadida had a difficult introduction to the season, conceding six goals in a 6-2 defeat to COD Meknès. Wydad also suffered an unexpected setback, losing 3-1 at home to newly promoted Widad Témara.

The meeting in El Jadida consequently takes on particular importance for both sides. Wydad will be seeking a response after its opening loss, while the home side will attempt to put its heavy defeat behind it and produce a more disciplined performance.

For both clubs, the immediate objective is straightforward: open their points account and avoid allowing an early setback to develop into a longer run of poor results.

Raja finally starts its league campaign

Raja Casablanca will make its first appearance of the new Botola season later on Saturday when it welcomes Renaissance Zemamra to the Complexe Mohammed V.

The Casablanca derby against AS FAR, originally scheduled for the opening round, was postponed, leaving Raja with a game in hand before its campaign had even begun.

The delay means the Green Eagles enter the competition without having played a league match, making Saturday’s fixture their first opportunity to establish their early-season rhythm. They will face a Renaissance Zemamra side that is also looking for its first points after falling 2-1 to defending champion Maghreb Fès.

For Raja, the occasion will combine the pressure of a home opener with the need to make up ground on teams that have already played.

COD Meknès looks to build on six-goal statement

COD Meknès will also play at 6 p.m., hosting Kawkab Marrakech with confidence high after an impressive first-round performance.

The Meknès side recorded the largest victory of the opening round, defeating Difaâ El Jadida 6-2 away from home. The result gave CODM three points and a +4 goal difference, putting the club at the top of the standings after the first round.

Kawkab Marrakech will arrive with a different objective. The promoted? No, Marrakech side was beaten 3-2 by Hassania Agadir in its opening fixture and remains without a point.

The encounter therefore brings together a CODM team seeking to maintain its momentum and a Kawkab side attempting to respond after a narrow home defeat.

AS FAR and Renaissance Berkane fixture postponed

The second-round clash between AS FAR and Renaissance Berkane has been postponed, meaning the Rabat club will still be waiting to begin its league campaign.

It is the second consecutive postponement involving AS FAR, leaving the team with two matches to make up. The altered schedule adds another layer of complexity to an opening phase in which several clubs already have a different number of matches played.

With some teams aiming to reach six points, others attempting to register their first points and Raja only now entering the competition, Saturday’s programme could begin to reshape the early Botola standings.