TP Mazembe renew rivalries with tricky foe Al Hilal of Sudan on Friday in a 2014 CAF Champions League Group A opener in Khartoum.<\/p>\n
The DR Congo side has nothing but unpleasant memories against Al Hilal whom they have beaten just once in four meetings since over the last six years.<\/p>\n
Mazembe got out of jail in the 2009 Champions League semifinals despite suffering a rare home defeat when Al Hilal beat them 2-0 in Lubumbashi but still advanced thanks to a 5-2 first leg win away in Khartoum.<\/p>\n
Architect of that famous win in Lubumbashi Paulo Campos of Brazil has returned to Al Hilal’s bench following his reappointed last week to replace Nasreddine Nabi who quit suddenly a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
“We will play to win and we Hilal are now better than 2009 and can beat TP,” Campos said.<\/p>\n
Campos has some justification to feel confident against a Mazembe side that has been failed to spark away from home in this year\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n
The four time champions have so far not won away after drawing 1-1 away to Les Astres of Cameroon in the second round on March 2 before advancing 4-1 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
Mazembe also didnt fare well in the last 16 after losing 2-1 away to Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast but scrapped through to the group stage on away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate result.<\/p>\n
However, despite Al Hilal being unbeaten in this year\u2019s CAF Champions League, they trace they last win in the competition March 9 when they defeated Malian side Stade Malien in a second round tie 2-0 in Khartoum.<\/p>\n
Al Hilal later qualified to the group stage on away goals rule following a 1-1 aggregate result in the last 16 after finishing scoreless in the final leg at home against AC Leopards of Congo-Brazzaville.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron is not taking Al Hilal lightly and is cautious of the aerial threat from set pieces posed by Al Hilal striker’s Mudathir El-Taieb and Mohamed Bashir.<\/p>\n
“Mazembe is able to compete but we must remember that this team has qualified against Stade Malien scoring two free kicks in the first quarter of an hour,” Carteron said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: Supersport.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TP Mazembe renew rivalries with tricky foe Al Hilal of Sudan on Friday in a 2014 CAF Champions League Group A opener in Khartoum. The DR Congo side has nothing but unpleasant memories against Al Hilal whom they have beaten just once in four meetings since over the last six years. Mazembe got out of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":18841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[29,3],"yoast_head":"\n