Kaizer Chiefs will be aiming to build on their good record against Angolan opposition when they face Petro de Luanda (Petro Atletico) in a Group C 2020-21 Caf Champions League match at Estádio 11 de Novembro on Tuesday.
The Amakhosi beat their opponents 2-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this month with goals from Eric Mathoho and Happy Mashiane ending an eight-game winless run across all competitions.
Chiefs eliminated Atletico's rivals Primeiro de Agosto in the first round – winning 1-0 on aggregate as they progressed to the group stages for the first time.
Furthermore, the Soweto club's finest hour in continental competition came against Angolan opponents in the form of Inter Clube Luanda (Interclube), who they defeated 2-1 on aggregate in the 2001 Caf Winners Cup final.
“I thought we played well. I thought we played the same way we did against Horoya when we drew 0-0," said Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt following his team's win over Petro at FNB Stadium.
"It looked like another night when we were not going to score with so many opportunities. But we got three points and that was the main thing for us.
"I think you need 10 or 12 points to get through. We got four and we still got three games left. It’s not going to be easy, we got Wydad coming here. They are not easy as they are very experienced in the competition. We have to go to Horoya in Guinea, and we’ve got to play in Luanda away, so it won’t be easy for us but we will do our best.”
Ramahlwe Mphahlele will make his return after missing the reverse fixture through suspension following his sending off in Burkina Faso last month.
The Chiefs defender has implored his teammates to forget about the team they faced in Soweto, knowing all too well of the challenges that come in Champions League away games.
"We have prepared well thus far and we are looking forward to the game in Luanda. We know it will be very difficult, Champions League teams play different football, especially when they are at home," Mphahlele said.
"The Petro we played in Soweto last week, we should forget about them and expect a different team all together.
"We know they will come all out because they need to win. The coaches have prepared a good game plan, we just need to follow that and execute it. The most important thing is to get three points, which will significantly improve our chances to reach the knockout stages."
Os Tricolores have yet to conjure a point after three rounds of fixtures and currently sit bottom of the group, four points behind Chiefs and Horoya and nine adrift of Wydad Casablanca.
Over the years, South African sides have only suffered one defeat to Petro in nine previous meetings across the Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup competitions, and that came 20 years ago.
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