Ceramica Cleopatra vs Al-Ittihad prediction, H2H and probable lineups - January 21, 2025
Ceramica Cleopatra
One of the fixtures of the 15th round of the Egyptian Premier League will take place on Wednesday, December 21, at Cairo International Stadium, where league leaders Ceramica Cleopatra will host one of the relegation contenders, Al-Ittihad. Here’s my betting tip for this clash, which comes with promising odds for success.
Match preview
Ceramica Cleopatra currently sit atop the Egyptian Premier League. However, Pyramids are just two points behind and have a game in hand, so Ceramica’s lead is far from secure. Under Ali Maher, the team is riding a five-match winning streak in the league and is unbeaten in seven games. It’s worth noting, though, that Ceramica’s last Premier League game was almost two months ago—since then, the team has only featured in the Egypt Cup and the League Cup during a lengthy break.
Their League Cup campaign was disappointing. The “Gold & Blood” managed just one win in six matches, finishing bottom of their group. Even considering squad rotation and giving fringe players some game time, such results raise serious concerns. This match should reveal whether that cup failure was due to a lack of motivation or if the team is genuinely out of form.
Al-Ittihad, on the other hand, are the polar opposite of Ceramica Cleopatra. The team is languishing near the foot of the table, currently second from bottom. Tamer Mostafa’s men have failed to win in six of their last seven Premier League matches, with their only victory coming at home against Arab Contractors (2-1). Al-Ittihad have also struggled with discipline: players have received red cards in three of their last four league outings.
However, Al-Ittihad looked much more confident in the League Cup. They went unbeaten in the group stage over six matches, though they only managed one win—a resounding 3-0 over Zamalek. Ultimately, Al-Ittihad finished third in their group with 8 points, not enough to progress to the playoffs as only the top two advanced. In the final round, they needed a win but were held to a goalless draw by Haras El Hodoud. Still, their cup performance showed the team’s potential and willingness to fight for survival in the Egyptian Premier League.
Interesting facts and H2H
- Ceramica Cleopatra have lost their last three matches.
- Ceramica Cleopatra have conceded in four straight games.
- Al-Ittihad are unbeaten in their last six matches.
- Seven of Al-Ittihad’s last eight matches have featured fewer than three goals.
- In the last ten head-to-head meetings, Ceramica Cleopatra have the edge with four wins. Al-Ittihad have won twice, with two draws.
- The last time these teams met at Ceramica Cleopatra’s ground, the match ended 1-1.
Probable lineups
- Ceramica Cleopatra: Bassam - Hany, Nabil, Samir, Sayed - Kalawa, El-Solia, Sadek - Issa, Awujoola, Lakay
- Al-Ittihad: Soliman - Liday, Shabana, Alaa, Mohamed, Sherif - Samir, Canaria, Toni, Amr Gomaa, Farid
Prediction
I expect this to be a low-scoring affair. In the last seven meetings between these teams, there have been no more than two goals per game, and there’s every reason to believe that trend will continue. The logical bet here is under 2.5 total goals.
