Following their 4-1 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League on the weekend, CR Belouizdad boss Nabil Kouki has discussed the tough task his charges face in the return leg in Pretoria.
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The Reds would have likely fancied their chances ahead of the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final given Masandawana's recent form.
The Algerian club's game prior to that was their first loss in domestic competition all season, and they had only conceded one goal at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in African football's premier club competition at that point.
Couple that with the fact that Sundowns were winless in their previous four encounters across all competitions, and it seemed as though the Algerian outfit could spring a surprise result, but the reality was anything but.
Rhulani Mokwena's men came out with an urgency that stunned their counterparts as the DStv Premiership champions left Algiers with an emphatic 4-1 victory.
After the game, Belouizdad head coach Kouki insisted the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 table-toppers were unfortunate to run into a team as good as Sundowns so early in the competition.
"I think we had the misfortune to come across this opponent in the quarter-finals," the Tunisian tactician said, as per DZ Foot.
"Everyone feared this team which testifies to the level of the South Africans.
"I think that today, the opponent was superior to us. Admittedly, we managed to close the gap, but Mamelodi Sundowns' third goal was fatal for us.
"Add to that that my players had played under great pressure which explains their performance."
CR Belouizdad ?? 1 - 4 Mamelodi Sundowns ??Goals courtesy of Peter Shalulile (2), Neo Maema Cassius Maillula all but ensure Ka Bo Yellow's passage to the semi'sSundowns have now beaten the Reds with an aggregate score of 9-2 on their visits to Algiers #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/brJE0NKp27
— Kamogelo Motecwane (@OfficialKLM_) April 22, 2023
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Sundowns have won all four of their home matches at Loftus Versfeld in the Champions League this season, and have conceded only four goals. Belouizdad will need to score three unanswered goals this coming weekend to have any chance of progressing, and while unlikely, will take confidence in the fact that they were the last side to defeat Sundowns in Mzansi in the competition.
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