Pirates’ Riveiro wary of ‘difficult’ Pyramids

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro expects Pyramids FC to be a dangerous opponent when the two sides meet at Orlando Stadium in the first leg of their Caf Champions League semifinal on Saturday.

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Pyramids may have the least pedigree of the other clubs in the last four – Pirates, Sundowns and Al Ahly. But the Cairo side, only founded in 2018, are up-and-coming on the continent, and are currently top of the Egyptian Premier League.

Pirates’ Riveiro – ‘Not here by chance’

“In my point of view, the fact that they lead in the domestic league, are doing well in the cup competitions, and (have been) brilliant … in the Champions League this season tells a lot about them,” Riveiro told journalists on Friday.

“Analysing them and knowing a little bit about the way they play football and their complexity that will require to stop them … I can tell you … like … the rest of us in the competition – (Al) Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns – we are not here by chance.

“We are here because we were doing … things very well all the way through the competition. It’s a difficult team to control in defence. (They have) a lot of talent in the front four – experience.

‘Our best version’

“They know it very well and they master the way they are trying to play their football with possession.

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“We know the importance of making sure tomorrow we can be our best version.”