Miguel Cardoso drawing Pirates lessons ahead of Lupopo clash | OneFootball

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Cardoso takes lessons for Bucs' shortcomings away to Lupopo

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Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso is drawing lessons from Orlando Pirates' shock defeat away to FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the CAF Champions League this season.

The Tshwane giants will square off against the stubborn Lupopo in a Group C encounter in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, 08 February.

Though Sundowns beat the Congolese side in Pretoria in matchday one, Cardoso is anticipating a tough test in Central Africa.

“Tough match ahead for sure, tough team, tough players, top attitude we are going to have, fight for the best result possible so that then in the end we can come and be satisfied with the honesty of the work we put inside the pitch and hoping that the consequence of that attitude is a positive result to get the best chances possible for the last match - that's how we need to go there and face the things,” said the Downs mentor.

With Lupopo known for utilising a synthetic pitch, the Portuguese tactician is aware of the difficult playing conditions in Congo, citing results from Pirates, Hilal and MC Alger.

“It's a very particular pitch, the way to play there is quite tricky. How was the results of Pirates there in the beginning of the season? We need to learn from the lessons, it's difficult to play there. Al-Hilal drew, MC Alger lost,” Cardoso added.

"So, we need to have the mindset to play there. I remember last year we played in Congo against Maniema, of course different stadium. It was an open stadium, almost no fans. The difficulty there was obviously the Maniema team and the heat and the humidity.

"Here there are more factors, it's a very crowded stadium, packed, over the pitch, which brings a lot of emotions. We need a serious and honest approach and humble approach so that in the right moments we can score the goals we need and bring the best result we can - that's very important. I think the boys are up for the challenge and they know what we are going to face and we go with those expectations.

Sundowns head into the match sitting third with five points from four games, but could move to the summit of the group with Lupopo's scalp.