AL Ahly SC (EGY) vs Mamelodi Sundowns Prediction & Betting Tips - CAF Champions League

Prediction published on 25/02/2022, 22:49  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 25/02/2022 at 23:52 in CAF Champions League Predictions

Two giants face off in Group A of the CAF Champions League as Egyptians side Al Ahly plays host to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns. Going into the game, Al Ahly are third in the group with one point, three behind Sundowns who are joint top. Al Ahly have however played one game less. These two sides have become accustomed to playing each other at this stage; they’ve met six times in the last three years. Al Ahly have come out tops in most of these meetings, winning three and only losing once. In their corresponding meeting last year, Al Ahly won 2-0, their third clean sheet in the last five meetings with Sundowns. In each of the last five meetings, Al Ahly scored first, but Sundowns have managed to fight back and forced draws in two. The Champions League is Al Ahly’s playing field; they have no loss in the last 12 matches, and just one in 26. They will clearly be favourites going into this game, especially with a 35-match unbeaten run at home in the competition. In the last 24 home games in the Champions League, they have 23 wins.

Mamelodi Sundowns have drawn each of their last two matches and they carry into this game a six-match unbeaten run. That will be severely tested here as they face the reigning champions, who are also in good form, and especially at home in this competition. In eight previous meetings with Al Ahly, Sundowns have managed just one win, a 5-0 thrashing of the Egyptians in 2019, the year they went on to win the African title under current Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane. Just like Al Ahly, Sundowns troop to this game with four clean sheets in their last five matches, but here the opposition will be tougher and they have to be at their best to even get a draw. They’ve lost three of their last five meetings with Al Ahly and Sundowns will be out to improve their form in the Champions League. In their last eight matches in the Champions League, Sundowns have managed just two wins, though they’ve also lost twice. It is worse away from home in this same competition; Sundown have no win on their travels in the last four, and failed to score in three of them.