Mamelodi Sundowns will shift their focus back to continental duty as they visit Mali outfit Stade Malien at the Stade 26 du Mars in what will be the deciding leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Sunday evening.
A place in the semifinals is at stake and focus will be required from the Brazilians who will need to emerge victorious by finding the net while keeping things clean at the back against a tough opponent in Stade Malien.
Bafana Ba Style find themselves with one foot in the quarterfinals following a convincing 3-0 victory played in their backyard.
Previewing this encounter, coach Miguel Cardoso stated that the focus is on this specific leg. He further stated that the first leg result will not matter to his charges on Sunday.
“What is important is we are going to face this match like it was the only match to qualify us for the next round. We will not be focusing on the game we played in Pretoria. We have to fight for a result that will work for us. Obviously, we want to proceed to the next round, so we need to approach it in the best possible way.”
“Obviously the hosts have been doing well, especially at home. They had a strong and positive group stage, so we know they will be a tough opponent to play against,” the Portuguese tactician continued.
Now, coach Miguel’s men go into Sunday’s fixture having already navigated one tricky assignment at home. This encounter will be crucial for them as they look to book themselves the only semifinal spot left. A victory by any margin will book them a spot in the semifinals for the third time in a row.
Mamelodi Sundowns will go head-to-head with Stade Malien on Sunday evening at Stade 26 du Mars. Kick-off has been scheduled for 18H00, live on SuperSport TV and SABC Sports.
