Mamelodi Sundowns will look to edge Al Ahly and reach the semis of this season’s CAF Champions League when they meet at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Date: 22nd May, 2021
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Time: 15:00 (SA Time)
Form Guide: Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns have potentially wrapped up the DStv Premiership with four games to go as they need just two more wins to seal another league title win. They fell short in the first leg a week ago when they lost 2-0 to the Egyptian giants.
Having missed Themba Zwane in the first installment of this fixture, the forward man is expected to be back for this one. Their explosive attack failed to nick an away goal which further makes their bid to overturn the deficit from the first leg a bit difficult.
“That is a very good building block to make us believe we’ve got what it takes to win this game on Saturday. We aren’t saying this out of being oblivious to the realities of the match, but we are looking at what we have and done. We are saying if there’s anyone who’s got capacity to do this, it has to be Sundowns.” Manqoba Mngqithi told pressmen ahead of the second leg.
They have the believe and strength to turn this tie around but they face a side that is being coached by a man who spent eight fruitful years leading them to numerous laurels – Pitso Mosimane.
Form Guide: Al Ahly
The Red Devils struggled for form and consistency in recent weeks before the win over Masandawana last weekend. In preparation for this tie, Pitso Mosimane’s side arrived in South Africa on time to stay focused on this encounter alone.
In one of Al Ahly’s last two visits to South Africa, they suffered a 5-0 bashing at the hands of the Brazilians and would be keen not to have a repeat of that but extend their four-game unbeaten run against the DStv Premiership League leaders.
“If anyone asked me before the first leg, would you take 1-0 or 2-0 victory against Sundowns, I will say yes, so I am happy with the result we got. Winning the first leg is very important, but it does not secure our qualification, as nothing is guaranteed in football.” Pitso told the club’s website ahead of the clash.
Prediction
Despite the two-goal advantage by Al Ahly, it remains an open time and the game could be decided by who scores first. Sundowns have enough quality to turn this game around and they can’t be ruled out just yet.