Three challenges threaten Esperance Tunis before decisive clash against Al-Suwaihli

Esperance Tunis suffered a setback in their African campaign, losing to Al-Suwaihli by a goal to nil in the match that took place on Sunday at Misrata Stadium, as part of the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

The result has sparked anger among the fans of the Tunisian team, who have been accustomed to reaching the group stage for the past ten seasons without interruption, as they now find themselves threatened with an early exit from the competition for the first time since the 2014-2015 season, when they were eliminated by Al-Merrikh from the second qualifying round.

Suwaihli put pressure on their opponent during the first half, creating three chances, the most dangerous of which was a free-kick that hit the post. Meanwhile, Esperance Tunis could not pose a real threat to the Libyan team's goal, and the first half of the match ended in a goalless draw.

In the second half, Congolese referee Jean-Pierre Ngini awarded a penalty to Al-Suwaihly in the 63rd minute, which Ayoub Ayad converted into the only goal of the match, giving his team an advantage ahead of the return leg scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades.

Despite the one-goal margin, Esperance Tunis faces several challenges ahead of the return leg, including the absence of one of their key players, defensive issues that have emerged since the start of the season, and limited alternative attacking options.

Youssef Belaïli will miss the next match after being sent off.

The absence of Algerian Youssef Belaïli is an additional blow for Esperance Tunis, after the team captain received a red card at the end of the first leg match for protesting the referee's decisions, including a penalty that sparked widespread controversy.

Esperance Tunis will be without the services of Pablo in the return leg due to suspension, which puts the coaching staff in a position where they must find a replacement capable of compensating for his impact in the attacking line during a match where the team needs to regain offensive effectiveness and turn the result around.

Defensive issues complicate the task ahead.

Esperance Tunis need to compensate for their loss in the first leg and achieve a result that grants them qualification, but their task seems more complicated considering the team's defensive numbers since the start of the current season.

Esperance Tunis has conceded eight goals in six matches, and the team has only managed to keep a clean sheet once, which raises concerns ahead of the return leg, where maintaining defensive balance will be an important factor alongside the search for goals.

Bashir Ben Saïd and his teammates must reduce defensive errors and avoid conceding any goals that could increase pressure on the team, especially since Esperance Tunis needs to compensate for their one-goal deficit from the first leg.

Limited attacking alternatives.

The task is becoming more difficult for Esperance Tunis with the absence of Belaili, alongside the injury of Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, which limits the options available to Spanish coach Pablo Franco in the attacking line.

Concerns are raised regarding the ability of the team to find the necessary attacking solutions in the return match, especially considering the performances of some substitutes, including Florian Danho, Abdul Rahman Konate, and Achraf Jabri.

The coaching staff will need to choose the right lineup to compensate for absences and improve the team's performance as Esperance Tunis aims to avoid an early exit from the continental tournament.

Esperance Tunis faces a crucial match in Rades, where they must win by two goals to ensure qualification according to the usual scenarios, or win by one goal to enforce additional time if both matches end in a tie on aggregate, according to the competition regulations. On the other hand, Al-Suwaihli only needs a draw to qualify, making the second leg a tough test for both teams.