Esperance have better record against SA teams

Tunisians have four wins but Sundowns have tasted victory over them before

Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance will meet for the first time in 16 years when they clash tonight at Lucas Moripe Stadium (8pm).

But the Tunisians are no strangers to South African teams, having played 10 matches against them. All have been in the CAF Champions League since 2000.

Esperance hold the advantage with four wins, while SA teams have won twice against them. There have been four draws.

One of the two wins from the SA side has come from Sundowns when the two sides met in the group stage in 2000. Esperance also have one win against Sundowns, while they have played two draws against each other.

The North Africans are quite experienced in this competition having won the tournament twice and been runnersup on four occasions.

SA teams vs Esperance: 2000:

Champions League Esperance 3-2 Sundowns Sundowns 2-0 Esperance Sundowns and Esperance ● met in the group stage and Esperance topped Group A while Sundowns settled for second spot. Group winners Esperance lost 5-2 on aggregate to Ghanaian side, Hearts of Oak in the final.

Sundowns 0-0 Esperance

2001:

Esperance 0-0 Sundowns Esperance again finishing top ● ahead of Sundowns in second, they both advanced into semis.

SuperSport United 12 Esperance

Esperance 2-0 SuperSport

2004:

SuperSport lost both their fixture ● to Esperance to finish bottom.

2005:

Esperance 4-0 Kaizer

Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Esperance Esperance knocked Chiefs

● out in the second round after their lead in the first leg.

Pirates 0-0 Esperance Esperance 1-1 Pirates Pirates progressed to the final on away goals rule but the Buccaneers lost the final 3-1 on aggregate to Al Ahly.

2013:

/ SAMUEL SHIVAMBU / BACKPAGEPIX Pitso Mosimane will tonight reach the 200-game mark on the Mamelodi Sundowns dugout. He’s already the club’s most successful coach with six trophies in four years.