Mamelodi Sundowns host Al Hilal in matchday three of the CAF Champions League on Friday, looking to maintain their unbeaten start.
Both teams are unbeaten in their two opening fixtures, winning once and sharing the spoils in the other, leaving them both with four points ahead of this tie.
Sundowns were 3-1 winners over Congolese outfit St. Eloi Lupopo in their opening fixture. Their second match resulted in a barren draw against MC Alger.
Their Rwandese opponents beat MC Alger 2-1, before settling for a 1-1 draw in Congo. Al Hilal are in second place, level on points with Sundowns, though they have an inferior goal difference.
Al Hilal have not beaten Sundowns in their last five attempts but will be full of confidence, coming into the game on the back of an impressive eight-match winning streak.
The Rwandese Premier League side have also kept clean sheets in six of those games.
Mamelodi Sundowns are also unbeaten in eight games, with that run featuring three draws. Following a league win over Orbit College last weekend, they will look to make it back-to-back wins.
What time does Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal start?
The game kicks off at 9PM E.A.T
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Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal team news
South American duo of Arthur Sales and Brayan Leon were on target for the hosts in their last game. Despite his goal, Colombian Leon is expected to start on the bench.
Marcelo Allende and Themba Zwane came in off the bench but the pair is expected to return to the starting line-up for this crucial tie.
The rest of the Sundowns line-up is expected to remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal are likely to name an unchanged squad to the side that beat Rayon Sports 4-0 last time out.
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Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal head-to-head and current form
The record South African league winners boast the advantage against their opponents in recent matches. Sundowns have not lost to Al Hilal in the competition since 2008.
These two sides have gone up against each other eight times. The hosts have won five times, compared to Al Hilal’s one victory. Only two games have resulted in a stalemate.
Sundowns were 2-1 aggregate winners over two legs the last time these sides met in 2023. With both teams on impressive unbeaten runs, it sets this up to be an exciting affair.
Current form:
Mamelodi Sundowns – WDDWW
Al Hilal – WWWWW
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal previous games
- Al Hilal 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns (March 18, 2023)
- Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Al Hilal (February 11, 2023)
- Al Hilal 2-4 Mamelodi Sundowns (March 19, 2022)
- Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Al Hilal (February, 11, 2022)
- Al Hilal 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns (April 2, 2021)
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Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal prediction
With both teams on unbeaten runs and good goal scoring form coming into the game, we can expect more than one goal here.
Sundowns have proved superior in recent years and with home advantage, they are tipped as favorites to get a positive result here.
Prediction – Mamelodi Sundowns to win or draw
