Mamelodi Sundowns strengthen group position with hard-fought draw in Algiers

Mamelodi Sundowns’ hard-earned 0-0 draw against MC Alger in their CAF Champions League clash at the Ali La Ponte Stadium continued their unbeaten run and handed them a solid start in their group-stage campaign.

The Brazilians are leading the group on four points, with Al Hilal set to play their first away match with a visit to the DR Congo to face up against Saint Eloi Lupopo on Sunday.

From a South African perspective, with the links shared between the two clubs, this was a fixture that naturally carried extra intrigue. MC Alger entered the contest under pressure, having lost their opening match and eager to claw back ground against last season’s finalists. 

In the build-up, much of the focus fell on the contest between the two high-profile coaches, Rulani Mokwena and Miguel Cardoso, who both publicly maintained that it was business as usual, with nothing to prove despite their shared history at their former clubs. Yet, beyond the polished PR lines, either coach would certainly have relished the chance to gain the upper hand.

Ultimately, the match played out as a tight, cautious affair, with neither side willing to take risks. Here, we unpack the three key talking points from the clash.

Missed opportunities and a decent result away from home

The Ali La Ponte Stadium was, as expected, packed to capacity, and with the challenge of taking on one of the continent’s top teams, the opportunity was there for Mokwena’s men to seize. Yet poor finishing and a lack of sharpness in the final third ultimately let them down.

Sundowns’ pedigree in this competition once again came to the fore. Cardoso and his side stayed calm during the most testing periods of the match, absorbing the pressure effectively and ensuring they did not allow anything cheap to slip through.

Sundowns in a position of dominance in the group

With Cardoso and his side managing to avoid defeat in what was one of the toughest away fixtures they will face in the group, returning home with a point has now put them in a strong position that not only continues their unbeaten start but could hand them full control of their destiny in this competition.

Their next encounter will be against Al Hilal and, vitally, at home — offering a chance for them to further step on the pedal and gain more advantage over their opponents.

Battle of the coaches

Although the match fell short of the excitement many anticipated, particularly with both sides capable of winning it, the outcome underlined just how narrow the margins were.

Sundowns are a side that thrives on possession, using their build-up play to wear opponents down and create openings, and that approach is deeply embedded in their identity. However, with limited space to exploit and MC Alger ready to break quickly whenever a chance presented itself, the contest became one defined by small details.

And while neither coach emerged with a victory, the goalless scoreline means Cardoso will feel more satisfied with the point earned.

Having suffered defeat on the opening weekend and followed it up with a draw, the upcoming fixture now takes on must-win importance for Mokwena’s side, who arguably should have applied more pressure on Sundowns to chase a decisive result.

They now face another demanding task in their next outing, an away clash against Saint Eloi Lupopo when the competition resumes next year.