Ceramica Cleopatra Surges to the Top: A 2-0 Win Sparks Title Talk in a Chilly Egyptian Derby Weekend
19 October 2025
Matchday Highlights
Ceramica Cleopatra sealed an exciting 2-0 win over Talaea El Gaish on Sunday night at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, in the 11th round of the Egyptian Premier League.
Marwan Osman put Ceramica Cleopatra ahead in the 24th minute thanks to a precise pass from Islam Eissa, setting the tone for the evening.
Saad Samir doubled the lead in the 58th minute, his first league goal in over a year since netting for ZED on August 18, 2024, and the 14th of his Egyptian Premier League career.
Kareem El-Dibis, Ceramica's left-back, was forced off with an injury after only 11 minutes of play.
Ceramica Cleopatra's points rose to 20 under manager Ali Maher, placing them top of the table temporarily, two points clear of El Masry, Zamalek, and Al Ahly.
Having played 10 matches under Ali Maher, Ceramica could still lose the lead if El Masry beat Smouha or Al Ahly overcome Al Ittihad on Wednesday to close the round.
Zamalek will sit out this round due to a rest period dictated by the league’s schedule this season, which features 21 teams.
In contrast, Talaea El Gaish endured their sixth defeat of the campaign, leaving them on 9 points in 16th place.
Other Results and League Changes
Earlier on Sunday, ZED beat Petrojet 2-1 at Cairo Stadium, with Seko Sonoko giving Petrojet the lead in the 28th minute, followed by a Congo-born Mata Magassa equalizer in 44 and a Shadi Hussein winner for ZED in the 56th.
ZED rose to 15 points, sitting seventh, while Petrojet remained on 14 in 13th place.
Round 11 also featured Modern S Port beating Wadi Degla 2-1 at the Peaceful Stadium in Cairo, with Ahmed Youssef and Ali Zaazaa on target for the winners and Ahmed Farouk scoring for Wadi Degla.
Other results included a draw between the Arab Contractors and Enppi, Ghazl El Mahalla’s 1-0 win over Ceramics Ismailia, and Bank Al Ahly’s 3-0 victory over El Gouna thanks to a brace from Ahmed Yasser Rayan and a finish by Osama Faisal.
Ismaily finally returned to winning ways by beating Haras El Hodoud 3-1, with Abdullah Mohamed and Omar Fathi scoring, while Haras El Hodoud’s Ibrahim Abdelkheek found the net for the visitors.
Looking ahead, upcoming fixtures include Pyramids vs Pharco at the Defence Ministry Stadium, Al Ahly vs Al Ittihad at Cairo, and El Masry vs Smouha at the new Suez Canal Stadium.
The Egyptian Premier League clubs’ association announced a new format for the 2025/2026 season, introducing 21 teams and a two-stage competition. The first stage will be a single-round league to determine the initial order, followed by two groups: the top seven for the title and continental places, and the bottom 14 fighting relegation to the second division. The changes aim to boost competitiveness, ease the fixture congestion, and maintain VAR with matches staged in approved venues. Expect a fierce race among Al Ahly, Zamalek, Pyramids, and El Masry under this new model, as the league seeks a distinctive path in Egyptian football history.
