Mamelodi Sundowns turn attention to their biggest test yet at the FIFA Club World Cup when they face German giants Borussia Dortmund in their second match on Saturday June 21.
Sundowns had the best possible start at the tournament when they beat South Korea’s Ulsan HD 1-0 on Wednesday morning, a win that saw them move to the top of Group F on three points, two more than both Dortmund and Fluminense, who played out a goalless draw on Tuesday.
A win for Sundowns will therefore guarantee them a place in the Round of 16 with a match to spare and this is what coach Miguel Cardoso and his team must be plotting, heading into Saturday’s match.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are under pressure to win as anything other than victory could leave them in danger of early elimination from a group in which they were seen as favourites.
It therefore presents an exciting match for fans but a tricky one for both sides who are looking for three points that will be vital to their ambitions.
Form Guide
This will be the 10th match for Sundowns in just under two months and besides their disappointing CAF Champions League final, they have been in scintillating form.
From the nine games they have played over that period, they have won seven drawn one and lost another and interestingly, not conceded in the matches they won, with only the 1-1 home draw and 2-1 away loss to Pyramids in the Champions League final the bad results.
That gives them confidence of another positive outcome against Dortmund and can be encouraged by how the Black and Yellow struggled against Fluminense on Tuesday.
Dortmund, meanwhile, also come into the match with almost an identical record as they are unbeaten in their last eight games, and have lost one in the last 10.
Before the draw with Fluminense, the German side had won six straight matches which means Sundowns’ work is cut out on Saturday.
Head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Sundowns and Dortmund and therefore difficult to predict how it will pan out although the last time the PSL champions faced a German team, it ended in defeat, when they lost 2-1 to third-tier side SV Sandhausen in a pre-season friendly last July.
Team News
Sundowns did not suffer any injury setbacks during their opening match but coach Cardoso has a decision to make on Themba Zwane.
The veteran started on Wednesday but did not light it up as was expected and it remains to be seen if the coach will stick with him or go with the younger Jayden Adams, who has the legs that will be needed, in a high intensity game like this one.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are expected to field a strong lineup, just as they did against Fluminense, which means the famed front three of Serhou Guirassy, Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt will be unleashed on Sundowns.
What have the coaches said?
Miguel Cardoso – Mamelodi Sundowns
“It’s not easy to achieve victories, it was a long way until this moment. I think today we released a lot of energy, in the right way, before, during and after but we live with the right emotions. The team found the right place to start a match, we prepared it tactically and strategically very well and then we found the commitment between everybody, that was important to really play according to the level of preparation we had.
Nico Kovac – Borussia Dortmund
“This is something new, a special moment for each of us, because we usually play European teams now you play three (teams) from three different continents, it’s something new and something nice to be honest. Nobody knows everything of each other as opponents, but I think we have three different types of play, the Brazilian team is ball possession, a bit-controlled football to keep the ball, then the Korean team is aggressive, fast and quick and Sundowns is more to the side of the Brazilian team (style).”
Time and where to watch
The match will kick off at 18:00 (SA Time) on Saturday June 21 at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio and will be live on SuperSport TV. Fans can also stream for free on Sporty TV and DAZN.
Predicted line-ups
Sundowns possible XI: Williams; Mudau, Kekana, Cupido, Lunga; Mokoena, Allende, Adams; Ribeiro, Sales, Rayners
Dortmund possible XI: Kobel; Bansebaini, Anton, Sule; Svensson, Reyson, Sabitzer, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Guirassy
Score prediction
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
