Mamelodi Sundowns are preparing for a tough encounter against Esperance of Tunisia on Tuesday evening, in the first leg of the quarter-final of the African Champions League, at the Hammadi Larbi Stadium in Tunis, starting at 9pm.

The match comes after Sundowns won the first leg in Pretoria last week, with striker Peter Shalulile scoring the only goal in the second half. However, the match also saw clashes between fans, adding to the tension ahead of the second leg.

Coaches' statements ignite the rivalry

Tunisian Esperance coach Maher El Kanzari expressed confidence in his side's ability to turn the tables in Tunis: “If we can score a goal, we can score three and qualify. We play attacking football and I am confident of the team's performance in Tunisia.”

He added: “We had injuries up front, but I still believe the game will be completely different in Tunisia. Sundowns are a technically and tactically strong team, but possession is not the decisive factor for the result.”

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, on the other hand, tried to ease the pressure on his players, emphasising that the match is ‘normal’ despite its importance: “It's a game like any other. My job is to make the players believe that, because the crowd and the referees don't play. There are 11 players on the pitch and they have to focus on the performance.”

The record favours Esperance

The two sides have met on nine previous occasions in the Champions League, with Esperance winning four of them, while Sundowns have won just two and drawn three.

The last time they met in Tunisia (April 2024), Esperance managed to win with a clean goal scored by Yann Medeiros Sass.