Asswehly vs ES Tunis - CAF Champions League

All eyes turn to the home ground on October 18, 2026 as Asswehly welcome ES Tunis in a CAF Champions League encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. Manchester United face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday but Michael Carrick's squad is depleted by injuries.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the CAF Champions League contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in that position but he seems to have fallen down the pecking order, as the less experienced Patrick Dorgu was preferred for the Manchester derby loss.

The tactical subplot is compelling: Asswehly favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while ES Tunis are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. But that goal against Bayern, the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or, feels a world away now.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. Whatever the outcome, the CAF Champions League fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.