Algerian giants CR Belouizdad were defeated for the first time in the league this season on Monday night, ahead of their crunch CAF Champions League encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns.
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The Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions went into their clash against MC Oran unbeaten in the league, but that all changed as the home side were able to come away with an emphatic 3-1 victory over the log leaders.
With Belouizdad boss Nabil Kouki having named a much-changed starting XI for the match following back-to-back draws, the Tunisian tactician has now been dealt his first blemish of the campaign in the league.
While this was the Reds' first loss in domestic competition this season, they have been thwarted three times already in the CAF Champions League, and with a crunch quarter-final against Masandawana looming, the result against Oran perhaps comes at an inopportune time for the Agerians.
With the first leg of their continental clash set to be played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Saturday, assistant coach Nader Hbiri believes Sundowns will have wanted to avoid them.
"As for the African Champions League draw, we know that all the teams that qualified are the best," Hbiri said, as per the club's official Facebook page.
"And the first three teams want to avoid facing CRB because we're an excellent team.
"The luck avoided us with [drawing] Sundowns. It is a strong team and excellent team. They have strong technical elements and collective strength.
"But we also have strong elements. We will prepare for this match to win the first-leg match to play comfortably and confidently in the return match."
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The two sides have played each other only twice before in Africa's premier club competition – the last time the DStv Premiership champions faced Belouizdad in Algeria, they came away with an emphatic 5-1 victory.
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