Al Ittihad Alexandria to open Egyptian Premier League campaign against Zamalek

Al Ittihad Alexandria will begin their Egyptian Premier League campaign with a difficult away fixture against Zamalek at Cairo International Stadium on Friday, 21 August.

The Egyptian Premier League is scheduled to start on 21 August, with the first phase ending on 20 February. The second phase is due to begin on 8 March and finish on 28 May, although the May schedule could be revised because of the finals of continental competitions, according to Taha Ezzat, chairman of the competitions committee.

Al Ittihad Alexandria’s first-phase fixture list is:

– Round one: Zamalek v Al Ittihad Alexandria Friday, 21 August, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round two: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Ceramica Cleopatra Friday, 28 August, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round three: Abu Qir Fertilizers v Al Ittihad Alexandria Wednesday, 2 September, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round four: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Asyut Petroleum Monday, 7 September, Alexandria Stadium, 17:00 – Round five: Al Masry v Al Ittihad Alexandria Tuesday, 15 September, New Suez Stadium, 20:00 – Round six: Al Ittihad Alexandria v El Gouna Tuesday, 13 October, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round seven: Ghazl El Mahalla v Al Ittihad Alexandria Tuesday, 20 October, El Mahalla Stadium, 20:00 – Round eight: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Tala’ea El Gaish Friday, 30 October, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round nine: Wadi Degla v Al Ittihad Alexandria Tuesday, 24 November, Al Salam Stadium, 20:00 – Round 10: Al Ittihad Alexandria v ENPPI Tuesday, 8 December, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round 11: El Qanah v Al Ittihad Alexandria Tuesday, 15 December, Suez Canal Authority Stadium, 20:00 – Round 12: Al Ittihad Alexandria v ZED Thursday, 24 December, Alexandria Stadium, 17:00 – Round 13: Al Ahly v Al Ittihad Alexandria Tuesday, 29 December, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round 14: National Bank of Egypt v Al Ittihad Alexandria Wednesday, 6 January, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round 15: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Smouha Tuesday, 26 January, Alexandria Stadium, 20:00 – Round 16: Pyramids FC v Al Ittihad Alexandria Sunday, 31 January, 30 June Stadium, 20:00 – Round 17: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Petrojet Friday, 5 February, Alexandria Stadium, 17:00 – Round 18: Al Ittihad Alexandria v Al Mokawloon Al Arab Friday, 12 February, Alexandria Stadium, 21:30 – Round 19: Modern Sport v Al Ittihad Alexandria Saturday, 20 February, Cairo International Stadium, 21:30

How the league will work

The competition will be played in two stages. The opening phase will consist of a single round-robin schedule, with each of the 20 clubs playing 19 matches.

After those fixtures, the six highest-placed teams will enter the championship group to compete for the title. The teams finishing from seventh to 20th will move into the relegation group, where they will compete to avoid dropping out of the top flight.

Each club will carry its full points total from the first phase into the second phase. However, the standings in the final phase will be determined separately within each group, with every team again playing a single round of fixtures.

If two or more clubs finish level on points, their positions will be decided under Article 15 of the competition regulations.

The four teams occupying the bottom four places in the relegation group at the end of the final phase will be relegated to the division below, the Professional League.