Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On Tuesday, May 13, one of the marquee clashes of the next Egyptian Premier League round will take place at the Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo—Ceramica Cleopatra hosts African football giants, Cairo's Al Ahly. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 Central European Time. Let's break down the odds and pick a winner for this high-stakes encounter.
Ceramica Cleopatra
Ceramica Cleopatra have been showing decent form in recent matches. Over their last seven games, the team has suffered just one defeat, drawn twice, and secured four wins. In their latest outing, they battled to a 2-2 draw against a resilient Zamalek at home. Prior to that, they clinched a 2-0 away victory over Petrojet. The team currently sits sixth in the championship group, trailing third place by 10 points.
On home turf, Ceramica Cleopatra look confident. In their last five home matches, they've claimed three wins, one draw, and suffered one loss. However, it's worth noting that they haven’t managed a victory in their last two home fixtures. Despite this, the squad continues to play attacking football and can pose problems for strong opponents. Still, defense remains their Achilles' heel: they've conceded eight goals in their last five matches.
Additionally, Cleopatra have impressed in the Egypt League Cup, reaching the quarterfinal stage. In the first leg, they thrashed Petrojet 4-1, giving themselves a strong advantage ahead of the return leg and a real shot at reaching the semifinals.
Historically, Ceramica rarely find success against this opponent—even a draw would be considered a positive result.
Al Ahly
After a disappointing exit from the CAF Champions League—knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals—Al Ahly have switched focus to the domestic league and wasted no time getting back on track. They've won their last three league matches convincingly: first beating Petrojet, then smashing Haras El Hodood 5-0, and most recently cruising to a 4-2 victory over Al Masry. This strong run has propelled them to the top of the table with 49 points, two clear of second-placed Pyramids.
Al Ahly are also comfortable on the road. In their last four away matches, they remain unbeaten with two draws and two wins.
When it comes to head-to-heads with Ceramica Cleopatra, Al Ahly have a clear upper hand. In their past four away matches against this opponent, they've not lost—winning twice and drawing twice. Looking at the bigger picture, Al Ahly have won all of the last six matches between these teams.
Probable lineups
- Ceramica Cleopatra: Bassam, Shokry, Mohamed, Nabil, Hani, Adel, Reda, Tony, Lakau, Otman, Issa.
- Al Ahly: El-Shenawy, Koka, Rabia, Hanu, Ibrahim, El Solia, Ateya, Mohamed, Ashour, Bencharki, Ali.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Ceramica Cleopatra are unbeaten in 7 of their last 8 matches.
- Both teams have scored in 4 of Ceramica's last 5 matches.
- Al Ahly have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Both teams have scored in 3 of Al Ahly's last 4 matches.
- Al Ahly have won 7 of the last 8 head-to-head meetings.
- 4 of the last 5 head-to-head matches have seen over 2.5 goals.
Prediction for Ceramica Cleopatra vs Al Ahly
Al Ahly are the clear favorites heading into this clash against Ceramica Cleopatra. The Red Devils have been in outstanding form, sitting confidently atop the league and pushing hard in the title race. While Ceramica Cleopatra are in decent shape, it’s hard to see them resisting such a dominant opponent. The head-to-head record is also firmly in Al Ahly’s favor—they've won seven of the last eight meetings against Ceramica. My pick for this match: Al Ahly to win at odds of 1.6.
