As Mamelodi Sundowns prepare to take on CR Belouizdad in their CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash this weekend, Soccer Laduma looks at five concerns for the Premiership champions heading into the encounter.
READ: Rulani's Big Challenge Ahead Of CAF Showdown
Mailula and Shalulile's form
Sundowns are not a team that relies on one player for goals, but there is no denying how important the goals of Cassius Mailula and Peter Shalulile have been this season. Over the last few weeks, however, the two strikers have struggled in front of goal and will now face a side that is usually solid at the back. Both strikers have not found the back of the net since March 14, when Sundowns hammered Royal AM 5-1. Mailula netted once that evening, while Shalulile bagged a brace to take his tally for the season to 19 goals in all competitions. As the Chloorkop-based side prepares to take on Belouizdad, Rulani Mokwena will have his fingers crossed that his most lethal marksmen are on song to find a chink in the opposition armour.
Form
Going into the clash against Belouizdad, Masandawana have not won their last four matches and have been knocked out of the Nedbank Cup. This is the longest run without a victory for Sundowns this season and a major concern going into a game where confidence is needed.
History
The quarterfinal jinx! The Premiership champions have not been able to overcome the jinx in the last three seasons and are back there again, hoping to finally get themselves into the semi-finals for the first time since 2018/19. The main concern here is that Downs go into the clash on the back of a four-match winless run, which is not an ideal situation for the club. But Mokwena has enough experience in his squad to make sure that the journey does not end at the quarterfinal stage yet again.
READ: No Chloorkop Return For Jali?
Conceding away from home
Sundowns have done well to finish top of their group without losing a game, but what should concern Mokwena going into the last eight is the fact that in the club's last three away games in the group stages, they failed to keep a clean sheet. Four goals in three away matches were conceded during the group stages. Three of them, as Mokwena might have already noted, were conceded in the second half, which means that the side needs to be a lot more focused in the final 45 minutes against Belouizdad this weekend. A positive for Sundowns is that they scored in all their away matches during the group stages.
You must be Sign In to read and post comments.
