As determined as the Red Devils are in search of redemption, do they really stand a chance of overcoming the Tshwane giants in the return leg?
Fairy tales and stories of overcoming great odds are what make football the beautiful game, but it will take something rather catastrophic on Mamelodi Sundowns' part for Al Ahly to pull off the unthinkable.
Sundowns head into the return leg of the Caf Champions League quarter-final encounter against Al Ahly knowing firmly well that they are strong favourites with one foot in semi-finals.
This was not necessarily the case when both sides were pitted against each other not so long ago, but after a historic 5-0 demolition of the Caf African Club of the Century, it seems an insurmountable task for Martin Lasarte and company.