Jose Riveiro's 15th match in the CAF Champions League will come with an appetizing away tie at MC Alger tonight with the Spanish in a courageous mood.
Pirates have won twice and lost once in their three previous trips to Algiers, where all their games have been played at the same venue – Stade du 5 Juillet – where they will play tonight (21:00).
Bucs lost 2-1 to USM Alger at this venue in the suburb of Ben Aknoun during a disappointing 1997 Champions League group stage campaign, which ended with only one point from six games.
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Then, in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup, they won 2-0 against JS Saoura in the group stage, before their recent 2-1 victory over CR Belouizdad.
Their away match against ES Setif in 2020/21 competition was played in Accra, Ghana instead of Algeria due to COVID-related reasons.
"We are excited to find ourselves in the last eight of the competition," says Riveiro ahead of the match.
"We know it is going to be a tough one.
"Obviously, in the last eight of the competition every opponent is strong, and MC Alger is no exception.
"We know that it will be an interesting match, and we are so excited to be in this moment of the competition," he says, with Pirates having defeated CRB in their last match in Algiers last November.
"It was difficult to deal with CRB a few months ago.
"Both teams are doing well in the Algerian league and in this case, MC Alger are leading with six to seven points ahead of CRB.
"So, that tells you about the potential of the team and the players.
"We are talking about serious contenders and very well-prepared team with capacity to compete.
"Very solid and not conceding frequently, especially when they play here at home and with a group of forwards that can change the direction of the game in every action.
"So, we are coming here excited to have the opportunity to enjoy this moment of the competition and fully respecting the opponent in a different way.
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"At the same time, we want to prove one more time that we are capable to compete in these circumstances.
"I think it is going to be an equal and very interesting match," says Riveiro.
Pirates will play the return leg under floodlights at Orlando on April 9.