Sundowns v Inter Milan – race to be crowned champions

Mamelodi Sundowns and Inter Milan are runaway leaders of the DStv Premiership and Italian Serie A respectively, and the question is, who can claim their domestic title first?

Sundowns have an advantage in that only 30 games are played in the South African top flight compared to 38 in a Serie A season but Inter have been involved in 11 more league matches this campaign than the Brazilians.

Sundowns know that 66 points is the magic number for them to win the league, which is potentially seven games away, but that is only if Stellenbosch FC win all their remaining fixtures, which is highly unlikely.

A more realistic winning number will be 53-55 points as a maximum and, scarily for their opponents, Sundowns are potentially three games away from hitting that mark.

Their next three matches are against a trio of struggling clubs – home to Richards Bay, and away at Cape Town Spurs and Moroka Swallows. The fourth, by which time they could be crowned champions depending on other results, is home to Sekhukhune United on 27 April.

Or perhaps three days later when they travel to Kaizer Chiefs. To win it there would be both symbolic and hugely satisfying for Sundowns fans.

They were already crowned champions by 1 April last season, though of course, the format of the season was different and did not have a six-week break for the festive season and Africa Cup of Nations finals.

At that point, they were on 59 points and had seven matches still to play, but they could do it with similar numbers this time around.

INTER ON THE CUSP OF TITLE GLORY

Inter need to get to 89 points to be sure of the title as things stand, which is five games away, assuming they win four and either draw or win the other.

But they could do it a game quicker, by 22 April, if they win their next three against Empoli (home), Udinese (away) and Cagliari (home), and then beat bitter rivals AC Milan in their derby clash.

That would leave Inter with 88 points, while second-placed Milan would be able to get a maximum of 86, the same number as stumbling Juventus, even if the latter win their next nine games in a row.

But that also relies on AC Milan consistently winning until that derby and while there is no guarantee of that, they have won their last three fixtures in succession.

Juve do not look to be a factor any longer, so it is really a straight shootout between the two Milan clubs. AC Milan go to Fiorentina, host Lecce and travel to Sassuolo before their clash with Inter, not the most difficult run of games.

Napoli were also runaway winners of Serie A last season but took until 5 May to do it as they eventually claimed the trophy with a 16-point winning margin.

They got to 90 points, and Inter (76 points) are already ahead of the number accumulated by last season’s runners-up Lazio (74). Though it does seem likely AC Milan will eclipse that figure, but probably not by much.

What does seem certain is that both Sundowns and Inter will win their respective league titles. The question is when, and that will have as much to do with the form of the chasing pack as their own.

Especially in South Africa, no one has really managed to challenge Sundowns in the last few seasons because of the inconsistency of those chasing the leaders, not just the brilliance of the Brazilians.