Miguel Cardoso weighs pros & cons of Mamelodi Sundowns playing Caf Champions League first leg in Mzansi - 'Advantage and disadvantage is relative but we want to put pressure on Al Ahly'

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to play Al Ahly on Saturday in the first leg of the Caf Champions League semi-final game to be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

It is a massive game for the defending Premier Soccer League champions who are desperate to add a second star after coming close on several occasions.

In recent meetings, the Egyptian champions have struggled to beat Sundowns.

Masandawana have won three of the last five meetings across all competitions.

Ahead of the Saturday duel, Cardoso has underlined the importance of delivering at home.

"Let's see how the opponent will approach the game, teams like the ones competing in this moment are teams that understand how to relate to the different moments of the game, so I believe the game will have different moments," he told the media ahead of the game.

"Obviously, playing home and away being an advantage or disadvantage is relative, because it also has a lot to do with the result from the first leg.

"If we can get a positive result without conceding, for example, that puts pressure on them because at any moment, a goal from us in the [away] leg can be very difficult to cope with, especially if we also scored at home," Cardoso continued.

"That's what happened in the Esperance match, we knew that despite not scoring in the second leg, we knew that any goal from us would make things drastic and almost impossible for them to cope with, even with the emotions that comes into play."

He then explained what he is expecting from the players.

"But it's an open world of situations that happen inside the pitch, there's also emotions that can sometimes, when it's the wrong ones, affect the game, and the good ones keep us in the right line," Cardoso added.

"So there are many things we can't control that happen, but I believe the teams that express themselves best and the players excel are those that, on the base of what we do, also add something extra on the pitch, so that's what I hope to have from my players.

"I hope they can bring their best version on the pitch that can also add a lot to what I, as a coach, can give to them," he concluded.

Cardoso helped Esperance reach the final last season, where they played Al Ahly and lost.

Apart from helping Masandawana reach the final and win it, Cardso aims at avenging the defeat.