Celtic collapse, Salah’s Europa League test, and a full weekend of football from Cairo to the Premier League

⚽ We’re in for quite the busy long weekend on the pitch. Here’s what’s going down. Tonight, Al Ahly Saudi FC — not to be confused with our Al Ahly — kick off their 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup campaign against Auckland FC, champions of the OFC Pro League, at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. The victor advances to face Mamelodi Sundowns, the CAF Champions League holders, in the next round. Kick-off is at 9pm Cairo time, broadcast on MBC Action.

The Egyptian Premier League’s second matchday is also underway tonight, with three fixtures across the evening: Smouha host Asyut Petroleum at 5pm, before the night’s headline game — Al Bank Al Ahly vs. defending champions Zamalek — and Petrojet’s clash with Tala’ea El Gaish, both at 8pm. All on ON Sport.

In the major European leagues: La Liga has Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad at 10pm on beIN Sports 1. The Champions League also returns tonight with all four second-leg play-off ties, each balanced on a knife’s edge after first legs that produced no aggregate leaders. Viking face GNK Dinamo level at 2-2 on aggregate; Lyon meet Fenerbahçe also level at 1-1; AEK Athens host Levski Sofia after a goalless first leg; and Celje take on Slovan Bratislava in the other tied tie. All matches kick off at 10pm.

💡 NOTE- All Champions League fixtures (and other major European league fixtures) throughout the long weekend will be broadcast on beIN Sports. Check the full schedule here.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

The Egyptian Premier League continues with three more Matchweek 2 fixtures on Thursday. Modern Sport take on Ghazl El Mahalla at 5pm Cairo, before El Mokawloon El Arab face Al Masry and Pyramids host Abu Qir Fertilizers, both at 8pm. All on ON Sport.

In La Liga:

• Celta Vigo vs. Osasuna — 9:30pm;
• Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao — 10pm.

AND- Trabzonspor travel to Budapest on Thursday for the second leg of their Europa League play-off against Ferencváros, having lost the first leg 0-1 at home in Trabzon last Thursday. Salah is expected to feature for the Turkish side as they push for the one remaining goal they need. The victor advances to the Europa League league phase; the loser drops to the Conference League. Kick-off is at 9:30pm on ON Sport.

Friday’s fixtures

Four more Egyptian Premier League fixtures on Friday: El Qanah vs El Gouna at 5pm, El Sharqia Enppi vs. Wadi Degla at 5pm, Zed vs. Al Ahly at 8pm, and Al Ittihad vs. Ceramica Cleopatra at 8pm. All on ON Sport.

In the English Premier League: Crystal Palace host Manchester City at 10pm at Selhurst Park, in a Friday night fixture that will set the early tone for Enzo Maresca’s first full week in charge of City.

On our radar in the major European leagues Friday evening:

• Elche vs. Racing Santander — La Liga, 8pm;
• Bayern Munich vs. Stuttgart — Bundesliga, 9:30pm;
• PSG vs. Lille — Ligue 1, 9:45pm;
• Milan vs. Venezia — Serie A, 9:45pm;
• Alavés vs. Villarreal — La Liga, 10:30pm.

Saturday’s fixtures

More Premier League action on Saturday, with four fixtures on the radar. Liverpool host Nottingham Forest at 2:30pm, before Bournemouth vs Everton, Coventry vs Hull City, and Tottenham vs Newcastle all kick off at 5pm Cairo. Tottenham vs Newcastle follows at 7:30pm. All on beIN Sports.

In the other European leagues:

• Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Elversberg — Bundesliga, 4:30pm;
• Levante vs. Real Betis — La Liga, 6pm;
• Strasbourg vs. Lens — Ligue 1, 6:15pm;
• Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburg — Bundesliga, 7:30pm;
• Real Sociedad vs. Espanyol — La Liga, 8pm;
• Juventus vs. Parma — Serie A, 9:45pm
• Sevilla vs. Atlético Madrid — La Liga, 10:30pm.

🥅 ICYMI-

Celtic blew a 3-0 first-leg lead to crash out of the Champions League — eliminated by Lask in Linz in one of the most extraordinary second legs in the play-off round’s history. Lask scored five goals to Celtic’s one. Celtic will now drop into the Europa League.

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