Al Hilal SC head coach Laurențiu Reghecampf aims to avoid a defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.
Africa’s elite club competition returns this coming weekend, starting on Friday when Sundowns host Al Hilal. This is expected to be a cracker of a game, with Sundowns occupying first spot in Group C and Al Hilal second place.
The group is still wide open to any of the four teams after just two games, and Reghecampf made it clear that avoiding a defeat away from home is their main priority.
“It’s a match in the first in the group stage and I think from my side, and also from the other coach side, it’s very important that the teams win some points,” he stated.
“It’s very important for the next period, because Mamelodi Sundowns have four points, we have four points, and it’s a strategy. I mean, for us, it’s very important tomorrow not to lose. It’s important to play a good game.
“We are coming after a good period in Rwanda, in the league, and I received my players 10 days ago. We didn’t have too much time to prepare for the game, but I trust my players, because they have a lot of experience.
“They know the competition very well, and for sure, tomorrow will be a nice game.”
The history between the two sides favors Sundowns, as these two sides have faced each other six times, with Sundowns winning four, while two ended as draws. But Reghecampf insisted history does not come to play.
“For me, it’s the first game against Sundowns, and I think will be a different situation, like I told you before, both teams have to go in these two games, very smart, because we have a chance to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League.
“For sure, Sundowns, they will try to play an open the game tomorrow, because they play home, and they have to win. We also try to win.
“I don’t know and I don’t care about the history from the last seven games. Tomorrow is a different game. We are ready for that.”