Promising Yet Concerning Signs for Sundowns Ahead of CAF Champions League Return Fixture

Although this appears encouraging a closer examination reveals more worrying details for Sundowns supporters as they approach the return match in this year final versus Moroccos AS FAR maintaining a 1-0 lead from the initial encounter in Pretoria where a larger victory would have been deserved.

They have been ahead following the opening leg across all three prior elimination matches contested this campaign progressing each time defeating Remo Stars from Nigeria 5-1 and 2-0 in the preliminary phase Stade Malien from Mali 3-0 and 0-2 as well as Esperance from Tunisia 1-0 and 1-0.

This already set a club benchmark for frequent leads after first legs of knockout matches in one Champions League season now extended further with the latest success.

Just two earlier cases exist where holding the upper hand after the first leg did not result in advancement through the tournament.

Initially versus TP Mazembe during the preliminary round in 2015 they possessed a 1-0 edge from the home game yet fell 3-1 on the road in Lubumbashi. A year later they would secure the silverware.

The next example arose against Moroccan rivals during the quarterfinal stage involving Wydad Casablanca back in 2017 an outcome they will wish does not foreshadow similar events.

Once more they claimed the home encounter 1-0 only to suffer an identical defeat in Casablanca allowing the hosts to prevail 3-2 through penalties.

Following a first leg victory they have secured the second leg triumph on 16 occasions which equates to 62 percent. Another four contests or 15 percent ended level with six defeats amounting to 23 percent although progression was halted in merely two instances.

When the second leg occurred away from home happening 13 times they managed three wins three draws and six losses pointing to a poorer performance history.

Indeed they have triumphed in none of their most recent eight away second legs after opening leg successes recording three draws and five defeats since a 1-0 win versus Mauritian opponents Curepipe Starlight in 2008.

Their outcomes in second legs after first leg wins during post group knockout stages from quarterfinals forward also present unfavourable statistics across six matches one draw and five defeats.

Moreover they have failed to find the net in any of those fixtures their only draw finishing 0-0 away to Esperance in last seasons quarterfinals.