Zamalek secured a valuable away win against CR Belouizdad with a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final. However, the result came with clear signs of struggle against a dominant opponent.

The match revealed two sides of Zamalek: a team capable of taking chances efficiently, but also one that struggles when forced under sustained pressure.

Attacking Efficiency Without Full Control

Zamalek started the game in an organized manner and capitalized on a key moment, with Juan Bezzera scoring the winning goal. The move highlighted their ability to transition quickly and exploit defensive gaps.

After taking the lead, though, the team dropped deeper, allowing Belouizdad to dominate possession and dictate the tempo. The Algerian side applied high pressure and controlled large phases of the game.

This shift wasn’t purely tactical—it also exposed Zamalek’s difficulty in building from the back under pressure, leading to repeated loss of control in midfield.

Defensive Resilience Under Heavy Pressure

In the second half, Zamalek clearly adopted a low defensive block, focusing on compactness and closing spaces. While this approach limited clear chances, it did not eliminate danger entirely.

Belouizdad came close multiple times, hitting the crossbar twice and even scoring a goal that was later disallowed for handball after a VAR review.

These moments highlighted how much pressure Zamalek endured, relying heavily on defensive discipline and goalkeeper performance rather than controlling the flow of the game.

Bezera’s injury also played a key role, as Zamalek lost a major attacking outlet, limiting their offensive threat in the second half.

In the end, Zamalek walked away with a crucial win—but one that sends a strong message: the result is positive, but the performance needs better balance ahead of the second leg, especially against a team capable of dominating possession and applying constant pressure.