Champions' battle in Pretoria: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Ahli prediction
Mamelodi Sundowns and Saudi side Al Ahli will meet on Saturday, September 19, in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The match will be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, with kickoff scheduled for 15:00 CET. I am backing the total goals market in this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Mamelodi Sundowns are unbeaten in six consecutive matches.
- Al Ahli have won only once in their last three matches.
- The Saudi club have lost their last three away matches.
- The teams have never met before.
South Africans set to make their tournament debut
Mamelodi Sundowns head into the match as the reigning CAF Champions League winners and one of the most consistent teams not only in South Africa but across the entire continent. In the domestic Betway Premiership, the team began the season unbeaten and sit top of the table after eight rounds. Such a start underlines Sundowns' remarkable consistency on the domestic stage.
However, the team dropped points immediately before the international clash. On September 12, Sundowns drew 1:1 away to Chippa United. Before that, the Pretoria side comfortably defeated Siwelele 3:0, having earlier overcome Golden Arrows 2:1. As a result, the African club have recorded four wins and one draw in their last five matches ahead of the meeting with Al Ahli.
Home advantage could prove particularly important. Sundowns will play in Pretoria, and the club have already confirmed that the match will take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The team are well acquainted with the local conditions and come into this international fixture after a busy stretch in the domestic league. Sundowns also possess experience of competing at the highest level of African football, which could be crucial against opponents from Saudi Arabia.
Sundowns have not played in the Intercontinental Cup since 2016. On that occasion, the South Africans lost to Kashima in the quarterfinals before suffering defeat to Jeonbuk in the fifth-place playoff.
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Toney in superb form
Al Ahli began the season with significant changes. After Matthias Jaissle left to take charge of Newcastle United, Marino Pusic was appointed as the team's new head coach. The squad also underwent major reshuffling, with Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie among those leaving the club. Against this backdrop, the new coaching staff must both deliver results and build a revamped team.
In the Saudi Arabian league, Al Ahli have collected 12 points after seven rounds and sit sixth in the table. The team have recorded four wins and three defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding 10. Their latest league defeat came against Al Qadsiah.
Ivan Toney's form deserves special attention. The Englishman has already scored 10 goals in seven Pro League matches and leads the scoring charts by a huge margin. However, he failed to score in the recent AFC Champions League match against Pakhtakor, with his team sharing the points in a 1:1 draw.
The Saudi club have already cleared the first hurdle in the Intercontinental Cup. In their match against Auckland City, Al Ahli struggled to break the deadlock for a long time, but Saleh Abu Al-Shamat scored the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute. The 1:0 victory sent the team through and set up a showdown with the African champions in Pretoria.
Probable lineups
- Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Morena, Kekana, Ndambane, Basadien, Mokoena, Allende, Letlaku, Ndlovu, Matthews, Leon.
- Al Ahli: Mendy, Baattia, Demiral, Hamed, Balobaid, Masoud, Edoua, Al-Shamat, Goncalves, Galeno, Toney.
What to bet on?
Both teams approach the encounter with strong motivation, but their preparations for the tournament have been different. Sundowns have the added advantage of home soil and a consistent start to the league campaign, while Al Ahli have already experienced the atmosphere of the Intercontinental Cup and managed to get past the first round. At the same time, the Saudis' victory over Auckland was a narrow one, while Sundowns have avoided defeat in their last five matches. This points to a cautious contest with few goals, making under 3.5 goals the main betting option.
