Esperance Tunis was held to a goalless draw by Sagrada Esperança in their second group stage match of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Friday.
The game, played at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Angola, saw both teams fail to capitalize on opportunities despite a spirited contest.
The Tunisian giants, who entered the match after a commanding 4-0 victory against Djoliba in their opener, faced a resilient Sagrada side determined to rebound from their heavy 5-1 defeat to Pyramids in the first round.
Esperance controlled possession and created several promising chances but struggled to break through the well-organized Angolan defense.
Esperance’s Youcef Belaïli and Rodrigo Rodrigues came close to scoring in the first half, but their efforts were thwarted by Sagrada’s steadfast goalkeeper and defenders.
The home team, spurred on by a lively crowd, also posed threats through Beny Papel and Mussá, but they too were unable to find the back of the net.
As the match progressed, tensions rose, and the physicality of the encounter was evident.
Houssem Tka and Hamza Jelassi of Esperance were both booked in the closing stages, underscoring the intensity of the battle.
Speaking after the game, Esperance coach Laurentiu Reghecampf expressed frustration at his team’s inability to capitalize on their opportunities.
We created chances but couldn’t finish them,” he noted, emphasizing the need for sharper execution as the tournament progresses.
Despite the draw, Esperance remains atop Group D with four points from two matches.
Sagrada, meanwhile, earned their first point of the campaign and extended their impressive home unbeaten streak to nine games across all competitions.
Sagrada coach Roque Sapiri highlighted the significance of the result for his side.
After the setback in our opening match, this draw is a positive step forward,” he said, lauding his team’s defensive resilience against one of the continent’s strongest clubs.
Attention now turns to the group’s other fixture, where Pyramids, who share three points with Esperance, will face Djoliba on Sunday.
The outcome of that match could further shake up the standings in Group D, where competition remains fierce for a place in the knockout stages of Africa’s premier club tournament.
As the CAF Champions League heats up, both Esperance and Sagrada will be aiming to sharpen their performances to keep their hopes alive in the tournament’s latter stages.
