South Korean champions Ulsan HD will face their South African counterparts on Tuesday night in search of a morale boost.
Ulsan HD are currently facing a challenging season, which may result in them losing their national title.
On the other hand, Mamelodi, who have been dominating, suffered a defeat in the Champions League final recently, missing out on a second continental triumph.
Team news
Under the guidance of Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD will rely on the performance of their top goal scorer this season, Brazilian striker Erick Farias.
They also have a number of older former South Korean national team players, including ex-Bolton and Crystal Palace midfielder Lee Chung-yong.
On the other side, notable player for Mamelodi is South African international Teboho Mokoena, who netted four goals in 26 appearances in their previous top-tier season.
Rivaldo Coetzee, who missed a significant part of the league season and the Champions League final, remains out of action for the Sundowns.
The stats
- Mamelodi Sundowns were victorious in 24 out of 28 league matches this season
- The South African team reached the CAF Champions League final by being a tough opponent, losing only two out of 12 matches
- Ulsan HD were defeated by Jeonbuk, the South Korean league leaders, in their last match before the competition
- Mamelodi Sundowns have reached the semi-finals of their continental competition for three consecutive years
- Miguel Cardoso's squad scored 65 goals and only conceded 13 on their way to the recent title
- Ulsan HD only managed to secure victories in eight out of 19 league games this season
Prediction
This upcoming match presents an intriguing opportunity for Mamelodi Sundowns to advance beyond their domestic accomplishments.
The South African team secured their eighth consecutive league title this season, scoring 65 goals and conceding just 13 in 28 matches.
They won all but four of those games and reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League for the third year running.
Despite their success domestically, they have not grabbed the Champions League trophy since 2016.
In this Group F encounter, Mamelodi Sundowns have the chance to make an impact on a larger platform, facing a Ulsan HD team that has slipped to third place domestically.
Ulsan HD has only managed to win eight of their 19 K-League matches and suffered six defeats in their seven AFC Champions League matches earlier this year.
The Sundowns demonstrate a strong team dynamic, whereas Ulsan features an aging squad showing signs of decline, making Cardoso's side the favorites to secure an initial victory.