The Brazilians are hosting Al Hilal in Rustenburg because Loftus, Lucas Moripe and Tuks Stadiums in Pretoria are not available as they don’t meet new and stringent criteria by Caf to host continental matches.
The other South African team at this stage of the competition is AmaZulu who are away to Morocan giants Raja Casablanca at the Stade Mohammed V on Saturday night.
In the Caf Confederation Cup, Orlando Pirates will be hosting little-known Saoura from Algeria at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
Mamelodi Sundowns VS Al Hilal
Sundowns players have been challenged by their chairperson Thlopie Motsepe to try and go as far as possible in this season’s tournament and that mission starts with this unpredictable Al Hilal side.
Since the won the competition in 2016, Sundowns have reached the semifinal stage once during the 2018-19 season and they have been eliminated in the quarterfinals three times and the group stage once.
To show that they take this match serious, Al Hilal have been in the country for more than a week where they camped in Cape Town and played a friendly match with Cape Town City.
Pick: Sundowns Wins by 0.31 at BetXchange
Wydad Casablanca VS Sagrada Esperanca
Focus will be on overwhelming favourites Wydad who have won in seven of their last eight matches, have not lost in 30 of the last 32 Champions League home games and have scored in each of their last thirteen home games.
Pick: Wydad Wins by 0.16 at BetXchange
Etoile Sahel VS CR Belouizdad
This is a mightily difficult match to predict because Etoile Sahel have not lost in thirty of their last thirty one home games and have scored in eleven of their last twelve home games. On the other hand, CR Belouizdad have not lost in six of their last seven away games.
Pick: Etoile Sahel Wins by 0.81 at BetXchange
