The 2022/23 DSTV Premiership title race has been narrowed down to two clubs, but realistically will have only one winner, which could be as soon as this weekend.
Mamelodi Sundowns are not in domestic action in this latest round of fixtures as they host Cameroon side CotonSport in the CAF Champions League.
But they may be crowned DStv Premiership winners before that games kicks off at 9pm on Saturday if their ‘closest’, a term to be used lightly, rivals in the league title race don’t beat Chippa United in Gqeberha.
SuperSport United are the only team that can catch Sundowns this season, with The Brazilians having amassed 59 points to date with a +36 goal-difference.
The maximum Matsatsantsa can get to in their final seven games is 60 points, but they will drop below the 59-point mark if they draw or lose to Chippa.
It would be the earliest ever a team has won the DStv Premiership crown, coming at the very start of April and with Sundowns having seven games left in the campaign.
Of course, it is all a moot point already – in order for SuperSport to be crowned champions they would need to win all seven of their remaining matches and Sundowns lose all seven of theirs. It is simply not going to happen.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are both on 37 points at present, so the maximum they can get this season is 58, below the mark Sundowns have already set.
THE RACE FOR SECOND PLACE
Much more interesting is the race for second place and the final CAF Champions berth.
That is really between four clubs, with SuperSport (39 points) leading the way, followed by Chiefs and Pirates on 37 and outsiders Cape Town City, who were runners-up in 2021-22, on 33.
Chiefs play four of their final seven games at home, but meet SuperSport and Cape Town City in the last two, which could lead to a massive scrap for the runner-up spot in the closing weeks.
They also have in-form Stellenbosch FC this weekend, but aside from that have four games they would expect to win.
Pirates must also face Cape Town City, but have, on paper at least, the best run-in of the sides, despite four of their final seven games being away from home.
They end away at AmaZulu on the final day, with home matches against Royal AM and Sekhukhune United directly before that.
SuperSport also have four home games, where they have been very strong, which includes against in-form sides Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy, as well as that clash against Chiefs would could yet prove crucial. They end their season away at Sekhukhune United.
Cape Town City have the trickiest of the run-ins and have lacked consistency this campaign, which makes their challenge all the more unlikely.
They must play Sundowns, Pirates and Chiefs all away, coupled with home clashes against KwaZulu-Natal sides AmaZulu, Lamontville Golden Arrows and Richards Bay.