South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns will host Espérance de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday April 1, within the first leg of a CAF Champions League quarter-final conflict of African titans.
Sundowns sit prime of South Africa’s Betway Premiership, with Espérance main Tunisia’s Ligue Professionnelle 1. Each groups have gained this match in recent times – Sundowns in 2016 and Espérance for the fourth time in 2019, along with earlier wins in 1994, 2011 and 2018.
The hosts for the primary leg – who gained the 2023 African Soccer League – completed second in CAF Champions League Group B this season behind AS FAR, however forward of Raja Casablanca and Maniema Union. Espérance gained Group D, ending above Pyramids, Sagrada Esperança and Djoliba.
Sundowns head into this off the again of a 1-0 further time win over Sekhukhune United within the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals. Midfielder Jayden Adams scored the winner and his spectacular type for membership and nation is a constructive for Sundowns, however fatigue could also be a priority though Miguel Cardoso has carried out his finest to rotate Masandawana’s large squad.
Sundowns will come up towards a South African participant in Elias Mokwana, who has three targets and two assists in six CAF Champions League appearances this season for Espérance.
CAF nonetheless makes use of the away targets rule though it has been scrapped by UEFA, so a objective on the highway could possibly be very helpful for Espérance forward of the second leg in Tunisia on April 8.
For Sundowns, this is a chance to realize revenge on a staff which beat them 2-0 on combination – 1-0 each at residence and away – in final season’s semi-finals.
Key particulars:
Date: Tuesday, April 1 at 3:00 PM CAT (1:00 PM GMT, 9:00 AM ET)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
The way to watch: The match is accessible on SuperSport.
Staff information:
Espérance have been with out captain and centre-back Yassine Meriah since November because of a cruciate ligament damage that’s anticipated to maintain him out till Might.
Holding midfielder Roger Aholou has been out of motion for round two months, as has attacking midfielder Mohamed Mouhli, with their damage return dates unclear.
Aubrey Modiba withdrew from the Bafana Bafana squad because of his spouse giving delivery and has been on paternity go away. It’s unclear when the Mamelodi Sundowns left-back will return to motion.
Anticipated lineups:
Mamelodi Sundowns
GK Ronwen Williams
LB Thapelo Morena | CB Grant Kekana | CB Lucas Suárez | RB Khuliso Mudau
CM Marcelo Allende | CM Teboho Mokoena | CM Jayden Adams
LW Peter Shalulile | ST Iqraam Rayners | RW Lucas Ribeiro Costa
Espérance
GK Bechir Ben Mentioned
LB Ayman Ben Mohamed | CB Koussay Smiri | CB Mohamed Amine Tougai | RB Elyas Bouzaiene
CM Abdramane Konaté | CM Houssem Tka | CM Onuche Ogbelu
LW Elias Mokwana | ST Achref Jabri | RW Mohamed Youcef Belaïli
Stats:
Espérance have scored 10 extra league targets than some other staff in Tunisia’s prime flight (47 in 25 video games), whereas Sundowns are the Betway Premiership’s prime scorers by 20 targets, having scored 51 in 23.
Mamelodi Sundowns have failed to attain in three consecutive video games towards Espérance.
