Our featured Betway Premiership match this weekend sees Orlando Pirates bid to stetch their lead at the top of the standings when they host Marumo Gallants on Saturday.
Orlando Pirates
Pirates are the only one of the top 3 sides in action this weekend and they come into the game 3 points clear of Sundowns and 5 better off than third placed Kaizer Chiefs in the title race with all 3 of the main title contenders having played 15 games. The Bucs are due to face Sundowns and Chiefs in the remainder of this month and they came through their latest test, a tricky looking visit to Amazulu with a 2-0 win.
Since the mid season break Pirates have also played out a 0-0 draw away to Sekhukhune and a comfortable 2-0 home win over Magesi. That stretches their Betway Premiership unbeaten run to 13 matches (11 wins and 2 draws).
Marumo Gallants
Back in August Gallants beat Pirates 2-1 in the first league meeting between the sides. Pirates were undercooked at the start of the campaign and that win was the second of the campaign for Gallants but since then they have added just 1 more 3 point haul to their tally, a 2-1 home win over Chippa in mid October.
Gallants have lost all 3 of their matches since the mid season break, failing to find the net in defeats at TS Galaxy (2-0) and at home to Chiefs and Amazulu (both 1-0). They were also beaten by Pirates 1-0 (after extra time) in the final of the Carling Knockout in December and they also exited the Nedbank Cup at the first hurdle, losing away to Galaxy 1-0.
The Betting:
At the time of writing Pirates are 1 / 3 favourites with Betway, the draw is priced at 34/10 and Gallants can currently be backed at 84/10
A game of 3 goals or more in total is priced at 11/10 and it’s 16/10 for both teams to score.
The Verdict:
Much has happened since the first league meeting where gallants sprang a surprise. Pirates also made hard work of seeing off this opposition in the Carling Knockout Final but all other evidence points to the Bucs winning this one, hopefully with some daylight.
Bet: Handicap, Pirates -1 goal at 21/20 with Betway
Note, odds are subject to change