ES Tunis vs Etoile Sahel | Africain Champions League
Competition: CAF Champions League
Date: Mon 06 Aug 2012
Kick Off: 07:00 AEST
Venue: Stade Olympique de Radès
Match review: www.NileSports.tv
Tunisian side Esperance are preparing to host compatriots Etoile du Sahel in the big game of the weekend in the African Champions League.
The pair have a rich history of competition in Tunisian domestic football, and are also the top two in their Group A in Africa’s top club competition this season.
Defending champions Esperance have a full haul of six points from their two games, while Etoile have taken four from their opening two matches.
This match could therefore prove decisive for Esperance in their hopes of reaching the semifinals, as victory would place them a minimum of five points behind the third-place team in the pool, which at the moment is Nigerian outfit Sunshine Stars.
The last 22 meetings between the two sides have seen eight wins for Esperance, seven for Etoile and seven draws, suggesting a tight contest.
Esperance have won the last three though, but a rider to that is the fact that Etoile thumped them 5-1 in a Tunisian League clash last year. Their last win in Rades came in 2008, however.
Esperance have recently been boosted by the signing of Tunisian national team players Houcine Ragued from Karabukspor in Turkey and Chaker Zoaghi from FC Zurich in Switzerland. They have also brought in Cote d’Ivoire forward Didier Libre as he strengthens his side.
Etoile will have to do without key midfielder Hamed Namouchi, who is ill, but they otherwise have a full squad to select from.
