Sundowns look to start title defence with City win

Cape Town City will square off with Mamelodi Sundowns in the opening DStv Premiership match of the ?2022-23? season at the DHL Stadium on Friday. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) - Live on SuperSport PSL (channel 2020), build build starts 7pm.

This will be a battle between two teams which finished in the top two spots in the league last season as the Citizens enjoyed their best-ever campaign in the local top flight.

The Mother City finished second in the elite league for the first time in the club's history and they are now set to make their maiden appearance in the Caf Champions League this term.

Eric Tinkler, the City head coach, admitted that it won't be easy for his team to beat what they achieved last season, but he is optimistic that they can put pressure on Sundowns in the race for the league title.

“Difficult to beat what we achieved last season," Tinkler said.

"But obviously our objectives and our aims remain what they were last season finishing in that top four and obviously to put pressure on Sundowns.

"And I think that’s [what] all sitting here trying to do [to] put pressure on Sundowns."

ONE DAY TO GO! ??

?? Sundowns
?? #DStvPrem
?? Friday 5 August
? 19:30
?? Televised
?? DHL Stadium

Tickets for Sundowns: https://t.co/I7Q7XAgCSK
Ticket Outlets: https://t.co/FYy4xzOTLj pic.twitter.com/OISEuVEGel
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) August 4, 2022

Meanwhile, Sundowns dominated local football last season as they clinched their second domestic treble having won the MTN8, Nedbank up and DStv Premiership.

Masandawana will now be hoping to emulate Orlando Pirates who remain the only club to have won back-to-back domestic trebles in the PSL era which began in 1996.

Rushine de Reuck, the City defender, is wary of Sundowns having drawn twice with the Citizens in the league last season, but he stressed the importance of starting the new term with a win.

“Preparations are going really well, the guys have been working hard and we know that going to Cape Town isn’t going to be easy," De Reuck said.

"City has been a very difficult team for us to beat, even last season we didn’t beat them in the league, we drew twice, we know how difficult that game is going to be, but we also know that it’s our first game of the season and we need to win just to get the momentum going into the next game.

"We are ready and working hard. It’s very important to start the season with a victory, if we win our first game it will give us confidence going into the next game.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cape Town City

Hugo Marques: The Angola international was undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in the country last term and he was named DStv Premiership Goalkeeper the Season. Marques will be looking to start the new season by frustrating Sundowns and keeping a clean sheet.

Mduduzi Mdantsane: The ?2021-22? DStv Premiership Midfielder of the Season nominee was one of the standout performers in the PSL last season - scoring 10 goals from midfield and he will be hoping to play a vital role in helping his side claim a win over Masandawana.

Mamelodi Sundowns

Themba Zwane: The experienced playmaker is one of the most consistent players in the PSL having reached double figures in goals across all competitions in the last three seasons. Zwane has what it takes to single-handedly inspire Downs to a win in Cape Town.

Peter Shalulile: The reigning DStv Premiership Player of the Season is arguably the most feared striker in the league having netted 23 goals in the local top-flight last term which earned him the Golden Boot award and he will be eager to start the new term by scoring.

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2017/18 Sundowns 0-1 CTC Akosah-Bempah
2017/18 CTC 0-1 Sundowns Billiat
2018/19 Sundowns 3-2 CTC Maboe, Laffor, Mahlambi; Norodien (pen), Erasmus
2018/19 CTC 2-1 Sundowns Erasmus, David; Maboe
2019/20 Sundowns 1-1 CTC Kekana; Edmilson
2019/20 CTC 3-2 Sundowns Ralani 2, Erasmus; Edmilson (og), Makgalwa
2020/21 CTC 0-2 Sundowns Lakay, Makgalwa
2020/21 Sundowns 3-0 City Lakay, Shalulile 2
2021/22 City 0-0 Sundowns
2021/22 Sundowns 0-0 City