Nejc Gradisar leads Ceramica Cleopatra attack as Hossam Hassan starts for Al Ittihad

Al Ittihad and Ceramica Cleopatra have announced their starting line-ups for their Egyptian Premier League meeting in the second round of the competition, with Nejc Gradisar selected to lead the visitors’ attack and Hossam Hassan named in Al Ittihad’s starting side for the second consecutive match.

The match is due to take place shortly, with Al Ittihad manager Hamza El-Gamal and Ceramica Cleopatra manager Ali Maher confirming their choices before kick-off.

Gradisar, the Slovenian forward who is on loan at Ceramica Cleopatra from Al Ahly, starts as part of a three-man attacking unit. He will be joined by Sadiq Ougola and Marwan Osman.

Al Ittihad have again placed their attacking responsibilities on Hossam Hassan, who retains his place at the head of the line-up. He starts alongside Yousry Waheed and Pascal Ferry, while Joseph Armola is also listed among the team’s attacking options.

The Al Ittihad team is:

Goalkeeper: Sobhi Soliman

Defenders: Moamen Awad, Mostafa Ibrahim, Mohamed Mostafa, Khaled Massad

Midfielders: Ahmed Atef, Kenneth Simakala, Isaac Savior

Forwards: Yousry Waheed, Hossam Hassan, Pascal Ferry, Joseph Armola

Al Ittihad’s defensive unit will be protected by Sobhi Soliman in goal, with Moamen Awad, Mostafa Ibrahim, Mohamed Mostafa and Khaled Massad named in defence.

In midfield, Ahmed Atef, Kenneth Simakala and Isaac Savior have been selected to support the side’s attacking players and provide the link between the defensive and forward lines.

Ceramica Cleopatra will start with Mohamed Bassam as goalkeeper.

Their defence consists of Hussein El-Sayed, Ahmed Ramadan, Justice Arthur and Ahmed Hany. Mohamed Reza “Bobo”, Ahmed Belhaj and Amr Qalawa make up the midfield.

The Ceramica Cleopatra line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Mohamed Bassam

Defenders: Hussein El-Sayed, Ahmed Ramadan, Justice Arthur, Ahmed Hany

Midfielders: Mohamed Reza “Bobo”, Ahmed Belhaj, Amr Qalawa

Forwards: Sadiq Ougola, Marwan Osman, Nejc Gradisar

The encounter is the second-round fixture between the two teams in the Egyptian Premier League. Both managers have now settled on their starting selections, with Gradisar providing the main focal point for Ceramica Cleopatra and Hossam Hassan continuing to lead Al Ittihad’s attack.

The confirmed line-ups also show the contrasting attacking choices made by the two clubs for the game. Ceramica Cleopatra will rely on the presence of the Slovenia international on loan from Al Ahly, while Al Ittihad have retained Hassan in the starting XI after selecting him to lead the attack in their opening match.