Two huge games in the Betway Premiership title race take place this weekend and we take a look at Saturday’s Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and Sunday’s clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune
Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates (Saturday)
Chiefs missed an opportunity to narrow the gap to their rivals in the title race when they lost 2-1 at home to Stellenbosch in midweek, a game they led 1-0 at half time. They will kick off in fourth place with 30 points, 2 behind Sekhukhune and 8 shy of Pirates and Sundowns. However Chiefs have played 2 games less than Sekhukhune, 1 less than Downs and the Bucs.
Prior to that defeat in midweek Chiefs had gone unbeaten in their last 9 league outings although 5 of those were drawn. They didn’t make it to the CAF Confederations Cup and they are also out of the Nedbank Cup so the league is now their sole focus.
It’s been a really poor 10 days or so for Pirates who were beaten 2-1 by Sundowns in last weeks top of the table Betway Premiership clash before they crashed out of the Nedbank Cup to Casric Stars on spot kicks.
Pirates come into the game in second spot just behind Sundowns with both sides having a +19 goal difference after 17 matches but Downs have a marginally better goals scored record. The loss to Sundowns ended a Betway Premiership unbeaten run of 14 matches for (12 wins and 2 draws) and had also kept a clean sheet in each of their previous 6 league outings.
The Verdict:
Both sides have received aa jolt to what was very solid form in recent days and Pirates Nedbank Cup exit was especially surprising. However I think Pirates are the most likely to bounce back having already picked up two prices of silverware this season and I like their boosted price with SuperSportBet
Bet: Pirates to win at 16/10 with SuperSportBet
Sundowns v Sekhukhune (Sunday)
Downs come into the weekend with 38 points from 17 matches and at the time of writing were shading Pirates for top spot but the picture will have changed come match day with the Soweto Derby taking place a day before.
Since that win over Pirates Sundowns have followed up with a 1-0 win away to Amazulu. Their only league defeat this season came in KZN, at Golden Arrows on the 24th September and since then they have won 6 and drawn 2 of the subsequent 8 league games. Sundowns have also progressed in the CAf Champions League but they were another big gun on the wrong end of a shock result in the Nedbank Cup recently when they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at TS Galaxy.
Sekhukhune are hanging in their in third place although they 6 points behind Downs and Pirates and have played a game more than the top 2. They seem to be emerging from a dip in results with back to back league wins at Galaxy (1-0) and at home to Orbit College (2-0). Prior to that they had won just 1 of 9 league games but unlike the other sides in the top 4, they have managed to stay in the Nedbank Cup so confidence looks to have been restored.
The Verdict:
Sundowns beat Sekhukhune 2-0 in the first league meeting and they might need another win here to retain top spot and keep elements of their support who gave the team a hard time before the -0 win at Amazulu on side.
One goal was enough for Downs at Amazulu and I’m thinking / hoping this could be another low scoring match.
Bet: Total goals under 1.5 at 16/10 with Betway
Note, odds are subject to change