Mamelodi Sundowns vs Belouizdad Prediction & Betting Tips - CAF Champions League

Prediction published on 28/04/2023, 16:23  by Kennedy Kechula in CAF Champions League Predictions

Mamelodi Sundowns will this Saturday host CR Belouizdad in the return match of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal tie. Sundowns did the heavy lifting in the first leg match last weekend and now just need to protect their 4-1 lead to be assured of passage to the semifinals of the competition for the first time in four seasons where a showdown with either Simba SC or Wydad Casablanca awaits. Sundowns secured an emphatic win in Algeria and have now won two of the last three matches in this matchup. Their first win over Belouizdad also came away from home and was another drubbing, a 5-1 thumping during the group stages of the 2020/21 Champions League season. Belouizdad responded by winning in South Africa 2-0 and ensuring both teams qualified for the knockout round. Sundowns are unbeaten in 10 straight matches in the Champions League with seven of those ending in victory and they will be keen to protect this record, especially playing at home where four of those wins have come. Masandwana have already secured the South African title for this season but that didn’t stop them from winning their 20th league match out of 27 when they defeated Richards Bay 1-0 earlier in the week.

CR Belouizdad are also on course to winning this season’s Ligue 1 title and have a five-point advantage at the top of the standings going into the final 10 matches of the season. Nabil Kouki’s men, therefore, have a fallback plan if their comeback mission in South Africa falls short. The Reds know they have to score four goals without reply on Saturday to book their place in the last four as the away goals rule is still in use in this competition. Their form coming into this match coupled with their unconvincing record while away from home in the Champions League suggests that this is a task that is beyond them. The nine-time Algerian champions are without a win in their last four matches and have lost their last two. They also have one win in seven away matches in this competition but they can take comfort from the fact that the last time they played Sundowns away from home they ended up victorious.