Zamalek vs Al Ittihad

Zamalek could not find a way past Al Ittihad at Cairo Stadium, with the Egyptian Premier League season opener finishing 0-0. The champions dominated long spells of possession and territory but were repeatedly denied by a well-organised Al Ittihad backline, leaving the home crowd frustrated despite the pressure. No goals, no penalties, and no cards of note disrupted an otherwise tense, cagey affair between the two sides. Coach Moataz Jomaa had to reshuffle his options with Hossam Ashraf suspended and Mohamed Ibrahim still working back from injury, while Shikabala and Abdullah El-Said were only easing into full fitness after a late preseason return, leaving the attack short of its usual sharpness. For Zamalek, it's a stumble in their title defense opener against a side they had beaten regularly in recent seasons. For Al Ittihad, a point away from home against a historically dominant rival is a solid, if unspectacular, start to their campaign.