⚽ The Egyptian Premier League is back, and with it, “all the goodies,” as commentator Ayman El Kashef puts it. The new season has an all-new format following the cancellation of relegation last season. This year’s league features 21 teams, up from the standard 20.

The competition will be played in two phases: the first is a single-round robin tournament, where each team plays all other clubs once. In the second phase, the teams will be divided into two groups. The first will include the top seven teams competing for the title, whereas the second group will comprise the remaining 14 who will fight to avoid relegation.

At the end of the season, the four clubs with the fewest points in the second group will move to the lower division. Next season, three teams will be promoted, returning the league to its standard 20-team format.

The opening match of the 2025/26 season will see the newly promoted Wadi Degla and Pyramids — last season’s runner-up and African Champions League victor — face off. The game will kick off on Friday at 6pm. Zamalek — who finished third last season — will be hosted by Ceramica Cleopatra — who secured victory in the League Cup — at 9pm on Friday, coinciding with the match between Al Masry and Al Ittihad.

League champion Al Ahly will take on Modern Sport as they begin to defend their title on Saturday at 9pm.

Other matches kicking off on Saturday:

  • Al Mokawloon vs. Zed (6pm).
  • Smouha vs. El Gaish (6pm).
  • Ismaily vs. Petrojet (9pm).

We still have a few more friendlies on our radar between major European league teams taking place this weekend:

Thursday’s matches:

  • Bayern Munich vs. Tottenham Hotspur (7:30pm).

Friday’s matches:

  • Monaco vs. Inter Milan (9pm).
  • Chelsea vs. Bayer Leverkusen (9pm).
  • Brentford vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (9:30pm).
  • Newcastle vs. Espanyol (9:30pm).

Saturday’s matches:

  • Manchester United vs. Fiorentina (2:45pm).
  • Everton vs. Roma (5pm).
  • Leeds vs. AC Milan (5pm).
  • Newcastle vs. Atlético Madrid (6pm).
  • Arsenal vs. Athletic Bilbao (7pm).
  • Palermo vs. Manchester City (10pm).
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