History in Downs’ favour as they welcome Esperancé Brazilians aim to overturn 0-1 deficit in semi

• Published date: 26 April 2024
• Publication title: Sowetan (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Esperance’s 1-0 win in the first leg in Tunisia last weekend has set the stage for an intense battle this evening, with a place in the final up for grabs to face either Al Ahly or TP Mazembe. What also gives Masandawana confidence is that at home, they have been excellent in the Champions League as they have lost only one of their 31 matches, and that was against CR Belouizdad three years ago in the group stage

They remain unbeaten at home in the knockout matches with six wins and a draw. A 2-0 victory will be enough to see Rulani Mokwena’s side reach their third final, while a 1-0 win will see the match go into penalties. But they come against a side which defensively has proved difficult to bridge. Esperance have conceded three goals in this competition this season, and that was in one game – against Al Hilal away from home when they lost 3-1 in December.

Since then, they have kept 10 clean sheets in 11 matches, and with Sundowns having failed to score in three successive games in the knockout phase, this should be a concern coming up against a side that hardly concedes. However, Mokwena said they have a plan to overcome that.

“There is work that we are doing every single day to try to...