Sundowns vs Pyramids: Preview, predicted lineups, time & where to watch

Mamelodi Sundowns begin their date with destiny when they host Egyptian side Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final first leg on Saturday.

Sundowns have home advantage in the first leg, which will be staged at Loftus Versfeld, looking to take a giant step towards winning their second continental crown in their history by securing a win.

Miguel Cardoso’s team have grown in strength in the competition and have knocked out North African teams Esperance and holder Al Ahly in the quarter-final and semis to make it to the final and now, need to complete the job against Pyramids, who beat PSL rivals Orlando Pirates on the last four.

Form Guide

Sundowns come into the match as the form team having put together an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

The Brazilians have just been crowned PSL champions for the eighth year in a row after putting together a six-match winning run that saw them fail to concede a goal while overall, they have just let in 1 in eight matches since losing 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semi-final on April 13.

Pyramids, meanwhile, have won four, lost three and drawn one over that period and have been involved in a tight league title race that could see them crowned for the first time as Egyptian champions next week.

Krunoslav Jurcic Pyramids FC — Image – Pyramids

What will give Sundowns confidence is that Pyramids have been conceding many goals, with 12 let in from their last eight matches while they have scored as many.

Head-to-Head

This is the second time the two sides are meeting in two seasons as they faced off in the Champions League group stages last term, with Sundowns winning 1-0 away while drawing 0-0 at home.

Pyramids have also played a South African team this season, drawing 0-0 against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium before they overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at their backyard in the semi-final to book a date with Sundowns in the final.

Mamelodi Sundowns with the Betway Premiership trophy. Photo Betway

Champions League Pedigree

Sundowns are the boss team in this fixture as they play Champions League every season and had reached the semi-final in the last two campaigns before making it to the final this time around.

This is Sundowns’ third final in their history, having reached this far in 2001, when they lost, and 2016, when they won their first and only Champions League crown.

Meanwhile, Pyramids have never reached this far as the club, founded in 2008, are into the Champions League final for the first time in their history.

Fiston Mayele Pyramids FC — Image – Pyramids

What have the coaches said?

Miguel Cardoso- Mamelodi Sundowns

“We want to win the match, and obviously, we need to understand how the opponent can hurt us, so we need to prevent that. The team should play and organise themselves while playing because sometimes teams get disorganised. Where we stand today is the best place we have ever been.”

Krunoslav Jurcic – Pyramids

“We have a very good team, very good atmosphere – we’re playing a good team with bigger experience than us, especially in the Champions League but we’ve been good this season and the players are ready — supporters who will watch this match will enjoy this.”