After taking part in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals last weekend, top Algerian sides CR Belouizdad and ES Sétif returned to Ligue 1 Professionnelle play in a full slate of matches on Friday. Defending champions CRB suffered a shock home defeat, dropping a 1-0 result to bottom half side HB Chelghoum. The visitors hit CRB with a surprise goal in the opening two minutes on a penalty box scramble, moving Chelghoum farther away from the relegation zone while CR Belouizdad remain four points ahead at the top with multiple games to make up on their competition.
Sétif have struggled mightily in league play but have regained their form through success in the CAF Champions League. After stunning Tunisian giants Espérance in Tunis to win their CAFCL quarterfinal tie, Sétif dominated in a 4-1 win on the road against Olympique Médéa to continue an excellent start to life at the club for new manager Darko Novic. Motrani Zoubir scored two goals and Riad Benayad added his second goal of the season from the penalty spot as Sétif move into 8th place.
In a top-3 clash, MC Alger moved into second place by defeating JS Saoura 2-0 in the slate of late matches. Miloud Rebiai and Abdelhak Abdelhafid were the scorers for Mouloudia, who are now a point ahead of third paced Saoura while having played two more matches. MCA are looking to qualify for CAF club competition after finishing in 8th place in the league last season while making a run to the 2020-21 CAFCL quarterfinals.
Video of the goals from CR Belouizdad’s defeat and MC Alger’s victory are below.
CR Belouizdad 0-1 HB Chelghoum Laïd
MC Alger 2-0 JS Saoura
