ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, March 30 -- Cairo Derby between Egypt's and Africa's football giants Ahly and Zamalek ended scoreless on Saturday night, keeping Zamalek two points clear at the top of the Egyptian Premiere League.

Heavy downpour in Borg El-Arab Stadium in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, which continued during the game, gave the surface a greasy top, causing many miss passes and sliding tackles.

Egyptian media reported earlier in the day that the match could be postponed because of the rainy weather. However, Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs said the pitch is suitable for the game.

The Cairo derby, also known as the Arab Clasico, does not only bring Egypt to a standstill, but much of the continent of Africa and the Middle East too, with estimates of the TV audience for the game in Egypt alone put in excess of 50 million.

Al-Ahly and Zamalek were named as the top two African clubs of the 20th Century by Confederation of African Football.

Such are the passions engendered by the fixture, non-Egyptian referees are often flown in to officiate the derby in order to ensure impartiality.

Throughout the first half, both rivals came out with a conservative approach with only one chance in for title holders Ahly when midfielder Naser Maher sent a header from a close range, but Zamalek defenders made an incredible save near the goal line.

The second half was not much better than the first one as both sides did their best to maintain ball opposition without real danger.

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