Miguel Cardoso outlines strategic advantages ahead of Al Ahly showdown

The Brazilians host the Egyptian giants in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon, before travelling for the return fixture less than a week later in Cairo. 

Cardoso, who is all too familiar with facing The Red Devils after losing last season's Champions League final with Esperance, says starving their opponent of goals in the first leg will be crucial to ensure high pressure and force mistakes in the away leg.

"Let's see how the opponent will approach the game, teams like the ones competing in this moment are teams that understand how to relate to the different moments of the game, so I believe the game will have different moments," said Cardoso.

"Obviously playing home and away being an advantage or disadvantage is relative – because it also has a lot to do with the result from the first leg.

"Obviously if we can get a positive result without conceding, for example, that puts pressure on them because at any moment, a goal from us in the [away] leg can be very difficult to cope with, especially if we also scored at home.

"That's what happened in the Esperance match, we knew that despite not scoring in the second leg, we knew that any goal from us would make things drastic and almost impossible for them to cope with, even with the emotions that comes into play."

Given what’s at stake, Cardoso adds that this Champions League encounter will need calm heads over the two legs. 

"But it's an open world of situations that happen inside the pitch, there's also emotions that can sometimes, when it's the wrong ones, affect the game, and the good ones keep us in the right line," he added.

"So there are many things we can't control that happen, but I believe the teams that express themselves best and the players excel are those that, on the base of what we do, also add something extra on the pitch, so that's what I hope to have from my players.

"I hope they can bring their best version on the pitch that can also add a lot to what I as a coach can give to them."

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