Caf Champions League title holders ES Setif will begin their Group B campaign in the 2015 edition of the continental tournament with a home match against fellow Algerians USM Alger at the 08 Mai 45 Stadium on Saturday night (11:30pm CAT).
Setif and USM are two of three Algerian clubs still competing in the Champions League this year – the other is MC El Eulma – and all of them have been pooled together in Group B, along with Sudan’s Al Merreikh.
Setif have beaten Gambia’s Real Banjul and Moroccan powerhouses Raja Casablanca (on penalties) to book their place in the last eight of the Champions League, while USM have overcome Chad’s Foullah Edifice, AS Pikine of Senegal and Guinean side AS Kaloum on their path to this stage.
The teams have of course been regular combatants in domestic football down the years and have established a fiercely-contested rivalry which will be renewed in this Group B clash. Their most recent meeting was an Algerian Ligue 1 match on 20 January this year which Setif won 3-2 at home, with Eudes Dagoulou scoring a brace.
That victory helped Setif claim the Algerian league title, but they come into this match under something of a cloud as regards player availability. The defending champs will be without Dagoulou and Toufik Zerara due to injury, while the likes of Farid Melloulim Demou Abdelghani, Mohamed Lagraa and Gabonese Zee Ondo – all of whom were registered with Caf – have left the club.
In addition, two new recruits, Fares Hachi and Walid Chenine, have not had their registration status confirmed. They will be unavailable for this clash against USM, but should be eligible by the time Setif take on EL Eulma in July for their second group phase match.
USM, meanwhile, spent 10 days camping in Casablanca in preparation for this clash. However, they also have difficulties to deal with. They axed head coach Otto Pfister recently and have yet to appoint a replacement, meaning they come into this clash with a trio of former assistants in charge of the match.
Gambian referee Bakary Gassama will take charge of the match in Setif on Saturday night.
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