Sundowns on track to top group

Sundowns on track to top group

By Mark Gleeson

Mamelodi Sundowns’ impressive five-goal haul against African club competition giants Al Ahly last Saturday was another example of their potential to go on and win the continent’s top club prize this season.

There will likely be yet another example this Saturday, when they play away in Sudan looking to ensure top place in their group and a favourable quarter-final draw.

They take on Al Hilal who are in their group for a third successive season. Two seasons ago Sundowns won at home and played out a goalless stalemate in Khartoum, and then last season the Pretoria side won 2-0 at home and 4-2 away.

Al Hilal look a tougher proposition this time around, especially because they are also in contention for the quarter-finals. They have nine points after losing their opener to Sundowns in Pretoria, but then beating Al Ahly and winning home and away against Cameroon’s Coton Sport who are bottom of the group without any points.

Sundowns have 10 points while Al Ahly are on four and all three have two games to go and are still in the mix. It has the makings of a tense finish to Group B, although if Sundowns win on Saturday they are guaranteed top place.

They will then get home advantage in the second leg of their quarter-final against one of the runners-up from the other three groups. That will help their bid to win a first Champions League title since 2016. 

Al Hilal, who go away to Cairo for their last group game, must get something out of the Sundowns match to make sure that Al Ahly cannot overtake them. Only Raja Casablanca of Morocco, with a 100% record in Group C, and Sundowns are guaranteed last-eight places at this stage, so much is still to be decided in the next set of Champions League ties on Friday and Saturday.

While Sundowns are away on continental duty the battle for second place in the DStv Premiership gathers intensity with Saturday’s clash between SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates.

Can wily old coach Gavin Hunt ensure his side stay ahead of the rest of the chasing pack or has Orlando Pirates’ post-derby form seen them turn a corner and move in a positive direction?

Historically Pirates have had the upper hand in 85 past meetings with 35 wins to 27 for SuperSport. The Buccaneers have lost only one of their last six clashes with SuperSport.