Another draw on the cards? Prediction for NBE vs Ittihad Alexandria
National Bank
One of the matches of the 36th round in the Egyptian Premier League relegation group will take place this Friday at the Al-Salam Stadium, where NBE will host Ittihad Alexandria. This clash has all the hallmarks of a tight, hard-fought contest: the hosts often share the points at home, the visitors struggle away, and the head-to-head history practically drags this matchup toward a draw.
A matchup where the stats speak louder than the poster
NBE sits third in the relegation group, racking up 47 points from 12 matches at this stage. The team looks far more stable than most of its table neighbors: six wins, three draws, and three losses with a goal difference of 18:14 - a solid balance in a stretch where many rivals play out of fear of making mistakes.
The hosts’ recent results confirm their solid form: NBE beat Pharco 1-0, drew 1-1 with El-Gouna, lost 2-3 to Petrojet, played out a goalless draw with Ismaily, and edged Future FC 2-1. However, at home, the team often can't clinch the win - 10 draws in 19 home matches this season show that even with an advantage in possession and structure, NBE frequently ends up deadlocked.
Ittihad Alexandria sits 10th with 35 points and is enduring a far more turbulent campaign. They have a 12:12 goal difference in this phase, and recent weeks have been a mixed bag: a 3-0 win over Ismaily, a 0-1 loss to Ghazl El-Mahalla, a 1-0 win over Tala'ea El-Gaish, a 0-0 draw with Future FC, and a heavy 1-4 defeat to Wadi Degla.
The main issue for the visitors is their away form. Ittihad have won just three of their last 30 away league matches, and in their last six games on the road, they’ve picked up a string of results where draws and losses go hand in hand: 0-0 with Future FC, 0-0 with Arab Contractors, 2-2 with Haras El-Hodoud, 1-1 with Kahraba Ismailia, and defeats to Ghazl Mahalla and Wadi Degla.
Why a draw doesn’t look like a coincidence
NBE are higher in the table and have better overall momentum, but head-to-head meetings with Ittihad have traditionally been tricky. The hosts have won just one of their last ten league games against this opponent, meaning this isn’t the kind of matchup where the favorite can feel comfortable psychologically.
Ittihad Alexandria are too weak away from home to confidently chase a win, but experienced enough to close down space and grind out points. In these kinds of games, the visitors rarely create much but are experts at slowing the tempo and turning the match into a drawn-out positional battle.
Head-to-head stats and figures
- Six of the last ten meetings between NBE and Ittihad Alexandria have ended in a draw.
- In the first round of this season, the teams played out a 0-0 draw in Alexandria.
- NBE are unbeaten in six of their last seven league matches.
Prediction
NBE are logically considered the more stable side, especially given their league position and recent results. But the hosts’ home record is littered with draws, and Ittihad are exactly the kind of opponent who can ruin the tempo and deny the favorites any sustained pressure. Expect a match with few chances, a cautious first half, and a high premium on the opening goal. The most likely outcome? A 1-1 draw, with NBE enjoying more possession and Ittihad Alexandria relying on compact defense and rare counterattacks to claim their share.
