Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wydad Casablanca Predictions - Brazilians to beat holders to reach final

James O'Connor

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Last updated: 17 May 2023

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James O'Connor 17 May 2023

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Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wydad Casablanca Predictions for Saturday’s CAF Champions League semi-final second leg (14:00 BST)
Wydad have three losses in their last 5 away CAF Champions League matches
Can Sundowns reach the final for the first time since 2016?

Expired

Sundowns to reach CAF Champions League final (Getty Images)

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wydad Casablanca Predictions

Sundowns are in great form at home and got a fine 0-0 draw with ten men last week. Wydad are reliant on their home form in this competition. I am backing the holders to be beaten in South Africa.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wydad Casablanca Predictions
Head to Head
Mamelodi Sundowns Form & Team News
Mamelodi Sundowns Predicted Lineup
Wydad Casablanca Form & Team News
Wydad Casablanca Predicted Lineup
Verdict

Mamelodi Sundowns have won 13 of their last 15 home matches.
Mamelodi Sundowns have scored 18 goals in their last 5 home matches (CAF CL).
Wydad Casablanca have lost 3 of their last 5 away CAF matches.
Wydad Casablanca have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 away matches (CAF CL).

Head to Head

Wydad enjoy a 4-3 advantage over Sundowns across 11 previous meetings with four draws.

The sides drew 0-0 in the first leg in Morocco last week.

Mamelodi Sundowns Form & Team News

Sundowns have won the PSL title and have only been beaten once in their last 32 matches. They’re chasing their second CAF Champions League crown having won it in 2016.

They reached this stage after 4-1 away and 2-1 home wins against Belouizdad in the quarter-finals. A 2-2 draw at AmaZulu (after being 2-0 up) preceded a 2-0 win away at Marumo Gallants.

A fine 0-0 away draw at Wydad Casablanca with ten men for 46 minutes followed. In midweek, a second string side drew 1-1 at home with Maritzburg United (PSL).

Coach Rhulani Mokwena will be without Neo Maema and Marcelo Allende in midfield due to suspension. There were 10 changes in midweek and all of those players will return.

The experienced Bongani Zungu could be handed a rare start in midfield.

Mamelodi Sundowns Predicted Lineup

Williams; Mudau, Mvala, Boutouil, Modiba; Zungu, Mokoena, Mbule; Zwane; Morena, Shalulile.

Wydad Casablanca Form & Team News

Wydad reached this stage by beating Simba SC on penalties in the quarter-finals. They’re one point off log leaders FAR Rabat in the Botola Pro League.

After losing 1-0 in Tanzania to Simba SC, they won 1-0 in the return leg and triumphed on penalties. A 1-1 league draw at title rivals FAR Rabat followed.

They warmed up for the first leg with a 3-1 at Chabab Mohammedia. The first leg saw a 0-0 home draw despite playing against ten men for the entire second half.

New coach Sven Vandenbroeck could hand a start to forward Zouhair El Moutaraji. Saideddine Bouhra is the man most likely to drop out.

It could be an otherwise unchanged XI with no new injuries or suspension to deal with.

Wydad Casablanca Predicted Lineup

El Motie; El Amloud, Aboulfath, Zola, Attiat-Allah; Jabrane, El Hassouni, Jaadi; Ounajem, Sambou, El Moutaraji.

Verdict

The odds for this match will be released closer to kickoff. I see Sundowns winning this match at home. I will also be backing them to keep a clean sheet.