Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are the headlining act in the Betway Premiership this week as they lock horns in Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash at FNB Stadium.
The decades long rivalry between the two giants has taken on another dimension in the ongoing season with both currently placed as the main frontrunners for league honours.
READ | Three key match-ups that could decide Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns
It’s a fixture whose result will shape the rest of the race for the title and undoubtedly the biggest match-up in the 2025/26 campaign thus far.
Six points separate the two sides heading into the clash which is a must-win for both as neither side can afford to let the other make valuable ground towards the big prize.
LATEST BETWAY PREMIERSHIP STANDINGS
Tightened their grip on top spot
After shifting their focus elsewhere for the past two weeks, Mamelodi Sundowns now throw all their attention to the defence of their league title.
They pivot to the all-important clash against the Buccaneers after successfully securing a spot in the CAF Champions League knockouts with a 2-0 win at home to Algerian outfit MC Alger.
That fixture was their fourth successive outing outside the Betway Premiership, and their spell away from league action has seen them concede ground to the in-form Soweto giants who have since tightened their grip on top spot.
Despite dropping down to second place, the Brazilians remain among the better-performing teams in the league with no defeats recorded in their last six matches.
They have collected 14 out of a possible 18 points during this period, and are fresh off back-to-back wins against Orbit College and Sekhukhune United.
A trip to Soweto poses a different challenge for Miguel Cardoso’s men, who have been unpredictable on the road during their current title defence.
Despite only emerging on the winning side just three times away from home, they have remained tough to overcome with only one defeat recorded thus far.
They have managed a point in each of their other four away games, and will undoubtedly chase the maximum haul on their visit to FNB Stadium.
Midfielder Bathusi Aubaas is one first-team regular guaranteed to miss out, having picked up four yellow cards this season to trigger an automatic suspension.
He is joined on the sidelines by defender Mothobi Mvala, who is currently working his way back to fitness after picking up an injury, while fellow centre-back Keanu Cupido could soon feature again after a brief spell out of action.
Bucs Team News
An opportunity to further consolidate their standing at top of the Betway Premiership table beckons for Orlando Pirates, who come face-to-face with their closest title rivals.
They could end the night with a handy nine-point lead at the summit with less than half of the league campaign to go.
Achieving this will require a clinical performance similar to those displayed in recent weeks when they registered back-to-back 2-0 wins against Magesi FC and AmaZulu before adding a 3-0 victory at home to Marumo Gallants over the weekend.
This run of form has taken them from fourth to first place in the standings while maintaining a 14-match unbeaten run in the league.
Backed by a defensive record that has underpinned their success this season, the Buccaneers’ streak will face its toughest challenge yet when they meet their Gauteng rivals.
Their role as hosts bodes well following an impressive home record, with 21 of their 38 league points collected at the Orlando Amstel Arena where they only conceded a single goal while finding the net 12 times.
The Bucs faithful will be hoping that the temporary change in home base brings about more of the same fortune and, more importantly, the same kind of focus displayed in their previous fixtures.
They head to their assignment against the Tshwane giants with no fresh suspension worries, while the likes of Tapelo Xoki and Thabiso Lebitso continue to recover from their respective injuries.
Head-to-Head
With three clashes between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns already concluded this season, there is very little to separate the two sides.
They met over two legs of the MTN8 semi-finals where the Buccaneers progressed to the final through penalties following a 2-2 aggregate score.
Their league encounter at Loftus Versfeld produced another stalemate with Cemran Dansin’s wonderstrike at the stroke of half-time salvaging a point for the visitors.
The two familiar foes have now crossed paths a total of nine times across competitions inside the past three seasons, with each boasting one outright win.
The last of these occurred at FNB Stadium where a quickfire brace from Relebohile Mofokeng sent the Soweto giants on their way to a 2-1 win in March last year.
It was a victory that broke Mamelodi Sundowns’ league hoodoo, following a four-season spell where they enjoyed an overwhelming upper hand in the fixture.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The match kicks off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 3.
Tickets to attend the match are available for purchase online on MyTicket.
Prediction
Orlando Pirates 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
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