Orlando Pirates have a varied record against the other seven sides who sit in the top eight of the DStv Premiership standings going into this weekend’s resumption of the league battle.
Pirates are left with five more matches in their league schedule – three of which will be against clubs also in the top eight.
Here is SuperSport’s special look at Pirates’ record against teams in the top eivht.
PIRATES V MAMELODI SUNDOWNS:
There was a major morale victory for Pirates when they thrashed Sundowns 3-0 in the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal, a result that precipitated a change in the coaching structures at the champions. But any hopes that result might be a portent of a closer contest in the race for DStv Premiership honours was quickly swatted away when the Brazilians beat the Buccaneers both home and away in the league at the turn of the year.
Overall record: Played 108; Sundowns won 45, Pirates won 32, drawn 31; Sundowns goals for 142-103.
PIRATES V SUPERSPORT UNITED:
The pair are jostling for second place in the DStv Premiership with only goal difference separating them with five games to go. The closeness of their tussle was also reflected in their two meetings this season as the first clash was goalless and the return match at the Orlando Stadium last month saw Pirates win with a late Thapelo Xoki penalty.
Overall record: Played 86; Pirates won 47, SuperSport won 27, drawn 23; Pirates goals for 112-94.
PIRATES V KAIZER CHIEFS:
Both this season went Chiefs’ way in a somewhat freaky fashion, the first derby in October won for AmaKhosi by Yusuf Maart’s long range ‘worldy’ and then the return fixture at Soccer City in February being settled by Olisa Ndah’s last gasp own goal.
Overall record: Played 177; Chiefs won 74, Pirates won 44, drawn 54, matches abandoned 5; Chiefs goals for 227-190.
PIRATES V CAPE TOWN CITY:
The two sides clash at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday in what is likely to be a tightly contested affair with both clubs unbeaten in their previous six outings, albeit City have drawn their past three matches and Pirates were most fortunate to advance in the Nedbank Cup at the weekend.
Overall record: Played 15, CT City won 4, Pirates won 3, drawn 8; CT City goals for 17-16
PIRATES V LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
Bucs did the double over Arrows in the league this season, winning both home and away, and have lost only once to them in their past 13 head-to-head meetings. This is usually one of Pirates’ easier assignments.
Overall record: Played 50, Pirates won 28, Arrows won 7, drawn 15; Pirates goals for 69-33
PIRATES V SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
Pirates lost already to the Limpopo upstarts this season and face them again in their penultimate match of the DStv Premiership campaign, which will also be the Buccaneers’ last home game of the season. In the last campaign, the two clubs met for the first time and Pirates won both home and away.
Overall record: Played 3, Pirates won 2, Sekhukhune won 1; Pirates goals for 3-3
PIRATES V ROYAL AM
MaMkhize’s side stymied Pirates’ hopes of a runners-up berth in the last campaign with a dramatic last gasp draw in Durban at the conclusion of the season. Pirates have got their revenge this season with an away win in the league and then in the MTN8, both right at the start of the term. The two teams meet at the Orlando Stadium next on May 3.
Overall record: Played 4, Pirates won 2, drawn 2; Pirates goals for 6-4