National Bank of Egypt suffer double injury blow before Zamalek clash

National Bank of Egypt will be without Mahmoud El Gazar and Osama Faisal for Wednesday’s Egyptian Premier League meeting with Zamalek, with both players ruled out through injury.

The match will take place at Cairo International Stadium as National Bank of Egypt look to recover from a disappointing start to their league campaign. The fixture is the second of the season for both sides.

Faisal is suffering from a torn adductor muscle, while El Gazar has sustained an injury to his anterior thigh muscle. The pair were also absent from National Bank of Egypt’s opening match against Abu Qir Fertilizers.

Their unavailability leaves National Bank of Egypt without two players who had been expected to be involved as the club attempts to respond to its first defeat of the season. National Bank of Egypt lost 1-0 to Abu Qir Fertilizers in their opening league fixture.

Zamalek, meanwhile, began their campaign with a goalless draw against Al Ittihad Alexandria. That result gave them one point before their meeting with National Bank of Egypt.

The two clubs therefore enter Wednesday’s fixture seeking their first league victory of the season. National Bank of Egypt will be aiming to avoid a second consecutive defeat, while Zamalek will hope to turn their opening draw into three points.

The match will be played at Cairo International Stadium, with the absence of El Gazar and Faisal confirmed ahead of the encounter. Faisal’s adductor injury and El Gazar’s anterior thigh problem kept both players out of the opening game, and neither will return for the meeting with Zamalek.

Zamalek were crowned Egyptian Premier League champions last season, claiming the title for the 15th time in the club’s history. Their status as the previous season’s champions adds importance to a fixture in which both teams are still searching for their first win of the new campaign.

National Bank of Egypt’s defeat by Abu Qir Fertilizers means they remain without a point after their opening match, while Zamalek’s stalemate with Al Ittihad Alexandria gave them a solitary point. Wednesday’s contest will provide the next opportunity for both clubs to improve their early league position.

The injuries to El Gazar and Faisal were therefore confirmed as National Bank of Egypt prepare to face the reigning champions at Cairo International Stadium. Neither player will be available for the second-round fixture.