Mamelodi Sundowns have been provided with the platform to prove how far they have narrowed the gap when compared to the top tier clubs in Europe.
That opportunity will come when they face Borussia Dortmund in their second match in Group F of the FIFA Club World Cup at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday (18:00 SA time).
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While Sundowns came into the tournament placed in the bottom pot, the Germans are in Pot 2 sandwiched by Chelsea and Inter Milan with further company from Atletico Madrid, Juventus, FC Porto, and Benfica.
Dortmund was the third-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking.
So, this is the level that The Brazilians will be up against.
"Everyone knows what Dortmund are capable of," says Sundowns left-back Divine Lunga.
"It is not like they are a small team.
"They are big guns.
"We might be underdogs, but where we come from people know who Mamelodi Sundowns are and they know what goes on when you meet Mamelodi Sundowns.
"Even with Dortmund, I read an interview of their coach (Nico Kovac) talking about us, I think it will be a tough game and not an easy one," says Lunga.
Sundowns will then face top-tier club Fluminense in their last group match on June 25 (21:00) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The Brazilian club came into this match as the top-ranked club in the group according to the ranking criteria used by FIFA.
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They earned their qualification ticket as winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores (the equivalent of the Champions League).
Sundowns will be encouraged by the fact that they were able to get past Ulsan HD, who are second-ranked in Pot 3.
Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista
