How Sundowns should approach Champions League tie

Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego has explained how the Brazilians should approach their CAF Champions League quarter-final, first-leg match against Algerian side CR Belouizdad.

Sundowns departed the country on Monday to North Africa as they continue their journey for the Champions League trophy.

The DStv Premiership champions have been impressive the entire season.

They were on a 27-match unbeaten run in all competitions before suffering a defeat against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

At the moment, they are not in good form; they are going through a rough patch. Masandawana are winless in their last four matches with three draws and a defeat.

On the other hand, their opponents are unbeaten in three encounters registering two draws and one win.

MASHEGO’S ADVICE TO SUNDOWNS

“They need to go to Algeria only thinking of winning. The momentum they have going to this game is not impressive,” Mashego told FARPost.

“Sundowns is capable of coming back [to their best]. They have the players to go to Algeria and win the game.

“It’s just a mental thing and preparation of the coach and the players on how they feel about the game also the mood also in the camp. I think that will help them, but it will be very difficult in Algeria.”

“You can’t just switch on and off, win this game, lose this game. If they have to work hard, they have to come back to what they have been doing when they were winning [those matches].

“That will help them, I’m sure coach Rulani [Mokwena] would have told the players just to go back to the basics and retrace their steps,” he added.

Kickoff on Saturday, 22 April, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium is scheduled at 9pm [South Africa time zone].

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