Orlando Pirates will continue their quest for continental glory when they face off with Algerian giants MC Alger in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.
Pirates will look for first leg advantage on enemy territory with the clash set to be held at a sold-out 64,000-seater Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers on Tuesday night.
Jose Riveiro’s team are in the quarter-final of the Champions League for the first time since 2013 and will want to make the most of it after what has been a brilliant run so far.
However, Algerian giants MC Alger stand in their way and it will be a tricky encounter given North African teams have traditionally done well in the competition.
Head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two sides but Pirates have already faced an Algerian team in the Champions League this season when they took on CR Belouizdad at the group stage.
Pirates won 2-1 both home and away and also took on North African opposition in the form of defending champions Al Ahly at the same stage, securing a goalless draw at home before a 2-1 win in Cairo, which will give them confidence of a third victory in the Maghreb this season.
Form Guide
Pirates head into the match on the back of a four-game unbeaten run after winning three and drawing one with their last match being a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, another sign that they are ready for MC Alger.
Meanwhile, the Algerian giants are also unbeaten in their last four, similarly winning three and drawing one before the international break.
Champions League pedigree
Pirates are looking for their second Champions League title since 1995 but reached the final in 2013, which they lost.
That was the last time the Soweto giants reached the last eight but their most recent good showing on the continent was a CAF Confederation Cup final loss to another Algerian side USM Alger in 2022.
Meanwhile, MC Alger have waited even longer for continental glory with their first and only trophy coming in 1976.
They have been to three quarter-finals since in 1977, 1980 and 2021 with this being their fourth appearance in the last eight.
What have they said?
MC Alger coach Khaled Ben Yahia has rallied his troops to grab this opportunity and make history by ensuring they bring down Pirates on home soil.
“It's not a simple league match where you can make up for it the next week. It's a Champions League quarter-final. If you want to make history for Mouloudia [MC’s full name is Mouloudia Club d'Alger], it's now,” Ben Yahia told Algerian outlet Competition.dz as quoted by TimesLive.
“Get it into your heads that a draw or a defeat would put us in great difficulty before the return [leg] to South Africa. We must win this match, whatever the cost.
“You must be at 200% from the first minute to the final whistle. It's not a question of talent; it's a question of determination, mental strength and the will to win.”
Meanwhile, his Pirates counterpart Jose Riveiro is urging caution.
“I am happy with the level of the players, as there was a great deal of competitiveness from both Orlando Pirates and Al Ahly,” he said.
“I mentioned before about the importance of the Al Ahly match. I think it is still too early to judge the tournament champion.
“We succeeded in obtaining 14 points and did not lose; we passed a difficult stage in the group stage. We still have a more difficult stage in the quarterfinals, so it is difficult to judge the title holder.”
Time and where to watch
The match will kick off at 21:00 South African time at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 and will be live on SuperSport TV and SABC1. Fans can also Stream on SABC Plus.
Orlando Pirates Predicted XI
Chaine, Van Rooyen, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Nkota, Makgopa
