Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League campaign continues this weekend. They are set to play their second Group Stage match in Algeria against MC Alger on Friday night at the sold-out Ali la Pointe Stadium.
Masandawana had a perfect start to their journey in the Group Stage, following a five-star performance against the Democratic Republic of Congo side, Saint Eloi Lupopo, which they won 3-1 at home. The victory in their backyard saw them leading the Group C pack on goal difference.
Meanwhile, the Algerian side did not kick off their Group Stage campaign on a positive note, after losing 2-1 to Al Hilal away from home. This loss marked their first of the season, and heading to this match, they sold out in two hours. They will look to correct matters and return to winning ways.
Bafana Ba Style landed in Algeria on Wednesday and got straight to gearing up for this highly anticipated encounter. Speaking to forward, Arthur Sales, he touched on how the preparations have been going.
“The level in the Champions League is different, and we expect a tough game on Friday. In environments like these, we need more preparation than usual, and that’s what we have been doing. We also need to apply more focus. Luckily, the preparations have been coming along very well. So we are ready for an exciting game on Friday,” the Brazilian-born man said.
With a sold-out affair and a fan base that will passionately support their side, Sales admitted to anticipating a hard time due to MC Alger’s 12th man. He, however, stated that they will need to be dominant in the pitch and only focus on the game to walk away with all points on offer.
“It’s time to show our quality against a very good team. Playing against them –especially on their home ground – is not going to be easy. We will need to give a hundred percent against them and their 12th man. The most important thing will be to dominate the game and hope to get a positive result.”
Mamelodi Sundowns will meet MC Alger on Friday night at the Ali la Pointe Stadium in Algeria. Kick-off has been scheduled for 21H00, live on SuperSport TV and SABC Sports.
