Ahly and Zamalek are expected to re-launch a traditional two-horse race for the Egyptian Premier League title as the new season kicks off on Friday in a new format that has drawn widespread criticism.

The new competition features 19 teams rather than 16, a bizarre odd number in league competitions, after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) controversially cancelled relegation last season.

Every round will see a team gets a bye, a system that had pundits and football critics fuming due to “lack of equal opportunities among teams”.

Ahly are favourites to maintain their domestic dominance and win an eighth consecutive league title, having strengthened their squad, which was branded an ageing one, with the addition of several high-profile players, including attacking midfielders Walid Soliman and Abdallah El-Saied.

The Red Devils, who came under fire recently for exiting the CAF Champions League and Egypt Cup in less than a week, still look formidable on paper, thanks to an embarrassment of options at the disposal of coach Manuel Jose.

They open their campaign on Friday against Haras El-Hodoud in Alexandria rather than Cairo due to a sanction imposed on them by the EFA following clashes between Ahly’s fans and security forces during a low-key Egypt Cup game against Kima Aswan last month.

Success-starved Zamalek, who have lived in the shadows of their more illustrious rivals since 2004, are desperate to end a long league drought and give their fans something to cheer about after enduring a centenary year to forget.

The White Knights suffered a stunning 2-1 loss to ENPPI in the Egypt Cup final under new coach Hassan Shehata, leaving their enthusiastic fans, who packed the 74,100-seat Cairo Stadium, downhearted.

But the supporters still hope former Egypt coach Shehata, who has brought in several new players including veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan, will be able to preside over a successful league campaign.

Zamalek were supposed to meet Wadi Degla in their opening game on Saturday but the match was postponed following Degla’s bus crash which left Belgian coach Walter Meeuws seriously injured.

Financial woes

The rest of teams are unlikely to pose a real threat to Ahly and Zamalek, given their financial woes.

Ahly and Zamalek dropped many points during the past few years after facing stiff competition from their unfancied opponents but things may change in the new season.

Traditional heavyweights Ismaily, a team that is usually ranked third behind Ahly and Zamalek in terms of caliber, are struggling to pay the salaries of their players and were forced to sell one of their most influential players, Abdallah El-Saied, to fierce rivals Ahly.

Masry, who are bankrolled by famous film producer Kamel Abou Ali, made several signings in the close season but offloaded lively left-back Ahmed Shedid and versatile defender Hani Saied, who joined Ahly and Zamalek respectively.

Company-owned clubs, who used to have the upper hand in the transfer marker due to their healthy financial positions, are no longer capable of spending big after being forced to slash their budgets following January’s revolution.

Egypt Cup winners ENPPI sold inspirational playmaker Soliman to Ahly and are likely to struggle to find another creative player while Petrojet could not make any prominent signings.

Bani Suef Telephones are looking the most ambitious promoted team, having lured several Premier League players including Ahly duo Ahmed Shokry and Abdel-Hamid Shabana and Ismaily’s 33-year-old defender Shady Mohamed.