Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro believes that their brilliant domestic form won’t count in the CAF Champions League for both his side and CR Belouizdad.
Pirates started the season on a high note, having won the MTN8 trophy already and are currently sitting top of the Betway Premiership table after winning seven out seven matches, while remaining the only SA side yet to taste a league defeat this season.
On the other side, Belouizdad has had a difficult start to the campaign after failing to win any of their first six league matches before collecting two wins to climb into 13th in Ligue 1 with 10 points after eight matches.
Despite this difference in the domestic form, Riveiro believes that form goes out the window for this clash, as both teams have a chance to start the CAF Champions League group stages in a good way.
“These are different competitions. I don’t think our situation in the league is gonna play a big role,” Riveiro told the media in Algeria.
“I think Belouizdad is coming from time with a new coaching staff, getting better honestly in the last few weeks, getting good results the last time they played in their league, so probably all of those components are gonna be more important than their current situation in the league, the near future that’s what I mean.
“I think both teams are in a good space coming from good results in our local competitions, but again, this is the Champions League it’s a different story.
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“It’s gonna be a different atmosphere and a different approach from both teams, and it’s the first group stage, we will probably know more about each other at the end of the 90 minutes.
“Tomorrow [Tuesday], we have the opportunity both of us to start the group stage with good results; it’s gonna be a good game, I think.”
