Football fans eagerly await the 8 PM kickoff tonight, Monday, to watch the highly anticipated match between Al Ahly and Zamalek at Cairo International Stadium as part of the ninth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

Al Ahly has played 7 league matches, earning 12 points by winning 3 games, drawing 3, and losing 1, currently sitting eighth in the standings. Their players have scored 11 goals and conceded 8.

In contrast, Zamalek is in a better position, leading the league table with 17 points after 8 matches, winning 5, drawing 2, and losing 1. Their players have scored 12 goals and conceded 4.

The derby match between Al Ahly and Zamalek draws attention as it is the first meeting between the two teams since last February, following Al Ahly’s withdrawal from the second-leg match last season in protest over the non-appointment of foreign referees for Zamalek’s game on March 11.

Al Ahly enters the match under difficult circumstances after suffering a decline in results, which led the club management to dismiss Spanish coach Jose Ribeiro and appoint Emad El Nahhas, his former assistant, as interim coach to lead the team during this phase.

On the other hand, Zamalek is experiencing relatively stable conditions, which helped them start the league strongly under their Belgian coach Yannick Ferreira.

An all-Spanish refereeing team will officiate the Al Ahly vs. Zamalek match, which kicks off at 8 PM tonight at Cairo International Stadium, concluding the ninth round of the 67th season of the Egyptian Premier League (Nile League).

Leading this team is 45-year-old Cesar Soto Grado, assisted by Ivan Maso Grando and Antonio Ramon Moreno, with Alejandro Ruiz as the fourth referee, and Jose Montero and Mario Lopez handling video technology.