Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was impressed by Al Hilal against MC Alger, but he warned the Sudanese giants that the Brazilians are a different kettle of fish compared to the Algerian-based side.
Sundowns will host Al Hilal in their third CAF Champions League group-stage match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night (8pm kick-off). It is a game the Brazilians are expected to win at all costs, having not lost to Al Hilal in their last seven encounters.
However, Cardoso knows they would underestimate their opponents at their own peril. Al Hilal are currently joint top of Group C with Sundowns on four points, but sit second due to an inferior goal difference.
The Sudanese side showed their zeal and grit in their opening match, pulling off a surprise win over MC Alger, who are coached by former Sundowns coach and Cardoso’s predecessor, Rulani Mokwena, at a neutral venue due to the ongoing civil war in their homeland.
Cardoso, as a result, is well aware of those strides but says Al Hilal must expect a completely different challenge in the nation’s capital.
“We expect them to be at the level they’ve shown in the competition,” Cardoso said, while speaking at the pre-match press conference at the match venue, on Thursday afternoon.
“They had a wonderful game against MC Alger. They were very competitive, but obviously, Mamelodi Sundowns are not MC Alger.
“The way we play is very different, so we expect a different game. We know what we have and what we are capable of doing. We know our responsibilities. Most importantly, we understand the pressure and the importance of what we have to do in this competition, as you may imagine,” Cardoso concluded.
