Sports activities Mole previews Sunday’s CAF Champions League conflict between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, together with predictions, workforce information and attainable lineups.
The 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo will flip right into a battleground on Sunday afternoon, when Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns face off within the second leg of the CAF Champions League closing.
The hosts have by no means received Africa’s premier membership competitors earlier than, whereas the guests final clinched the title in 2016 proper right here in Egypt, once they beat Zamalek 3-1 on mixture.
Match preview
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Since their transfer to Cairo in 2018, Pyramids have taken big strides ahead, and lifting the CAF Champions League trophy could be the last word validation of the membership’s daring investments in recent times.
Whatever the final result on this match, Pyramids will look again on the 2024-25 season fondly, having ended the Egyptian Premier League marketing campaign in second place, simply two factors behind perennial champions Al Ahly.
Moreover, they’re additionally set to face Zamalek within the Egyptian FA Cup simply 4 days after this match, which means {that a} victory right here will put them within the working to safe their first-ever double.
Krunoslav Jurcic‘s facet regarded set to enter this second leg a objective down, however they managed to clinch an important equaliser in stoppage time within the first leg, with Walid El Karti discovering the goal at Loftus Versfeld.
Provided that the CAF Champions League nonetheless employs the away targets rule as a tiebreaker, it’s this week’s hosts that now maintain the benefit, and the onus lies on the guests to discover a objective to stay within the tie.
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In the meantime, Mamelodi Sundowns will probably be kicking themselves for that late concession final week, particularly when contemplating how nicely they defended their dwelling patch this season, having solely conceded as soon as earlier than the primary leg.
Whereas Masandawana haven’t received this competitors in nearly a decade, they’re actually no stranger to the knockout levels, having reached the semi-final within the final two seasons and solely didn’t make it out of the group stage as soon as since their title-winning marketing campaign.
The Brazilians received the South African PSL title for an eighth consecutive time this season, ending 12 factors forward of Orlando Pirates, who have been crushed by Pyramids 3-2 on mixture within the semi-final of this competitors.
A 1-0 victory or any draw above a 1-1 for Miguel Cardoso‘s facet will earn them the title, although they are going to know that won’t be a straightforward feat, provided that their opponents have scored 20 targets of their 5 Champions League dwelling video games so far.
Moreover, Sundowns have discovered victories on the street on this competitors troublesome to come back by, having solely received one in every of their 5 away video games so far, whereas drawing three and shedding one in every of their remaining 4 outings.
Pyramids FC CAF Champions League type:
Mamelodi Sundowns CAF Champions League type:
Crew Information
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Fiston Mayele had a reasonably quiet outing in Pretoria final week, however he’s the joint-highest scorer within the competitors with 5 targets, 4 of which have are available in his final two matches right here on the 30 June Air Defence Stadium.
Abdelrahman Magdy and Ramadan Sobhi made the bench final week regardless of initially being flagged as doubts, and with each anticipated to be concerned once more this week, Pyramids’ solely confirmed absentee is Osama Galal, who has been sidelined since December.
For the guests, stalwart Themba Zwane and Mothobi Mvala just lately returned from long-term accidents, and whereas the pair have been unused substitutes within the first leg, they might have a job to play in Sunday’s decisive conflict.
Lucas Ribeiro discovered the web for Sundowns final week, however along with his strike companions Iqraam Rayners and Arthur Gross sales failing to impress, Peter Shalulile might be in line for a return to the beginning 11 this week.
The Brazilians have only one confirmed absentee for his or her journey to Cairo, with South African worldwide Rivaldo Coetzee dominated out of the conflict as a result of an ACL harm sustained again in November final yr.
Pyramids FC attainable beginning lineup:
El-Shenawy; Chibi, Marei, Samy, Hamdy; Lasheen, Toure; El Sayed, El Karti, Adel; Mayele
Mamelodi Sundowns attainable beginning lineup:
Williams; Mudau, Kekana, Lebusa, Modiba; Allende, Mokoena; Costa, Rayners, Matthews; Shalulile
We are saying: Pyramids FC 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns (Mamelodi Sundowns win on penalties)
Whereas Pyramids have been rampant at dwelling this season, they struggled to create many clear-cut probabilities towards Sundowns’ stingy defence within the first leg, and that might be the case once more this weekend.
Masandawana have to seek out an early objective to calm their nerves on this match, however outscoring their opponents might show troublesome. We really feel this one might have penalties to determine, and Ronwen Williams is a confirmed class act in that regard, having stopped 4 of 5 from the spot on the AFCON final yr towards Cape Verde.
For knowledge evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.
