Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has lamented his side’s busy fixture schedule ahead of their DStv Premiership clash against Royal AM on Tuesday evening.

The Brazilians got one over rivals Al Ahly after they secured a thrilling 5-2 victory in the second leg of the Caf Champions League contest to advance to the knockout stages.

Sundowns found the back of the net thanks to goals from Marcelo Allende, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena, and a brace by Peter Shalulile, while Al Ahly scored through Mohamed Sherif and Percy Tau.

Mokwena’s side will now turn their attention to the league when they take on Royal AM at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria as they look to bounce back in the league.

“Don’t forget that today we beat a very, very good side. Give this group a fair chance, most of them really, really are playing their first real Champions League, so give them a fair chance to compete and to fight for it,” Mokwena told his club’s official website.

“It’s not easy, we are in the last three competitions until the end of the season [and] we’ve got a lot of traveling in between. Now we have to face a very motivated Royal AM side with a new coach in John Maduka.

“After that [game on Tuesday] immediately the next day we’ve got to travel.

“We are off to another hostile environment with heat. We have to put 90 minutes into the legs and that’s not going to be easy because now the expectations have been raised.”

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