Sundowns, Pirates set for key Betway Premiership battle

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will have a key battle which could play a major role in deciding the destination of the 2024-25 Betway Premiership title.

The two heavyweights will meet at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday 8 February 2025, with kick-off at 3.30pm CAT. Catch the action live on SuperSport.

MATCH BACKGROUND

Sundowns, who have won the last seven championships in succession, enjoy a six-point lead at the top of the log over second-placed Pirates. However, the Soweto side has a game in hand on their Tshwane counterparts and a win away at Loftus could set up a thrilling title race through to the end of the season in May.

Both teams secured midweek victories, with the Brazilians cruising to a 3-0 win at Tshwane rivals SuperSport United (courtesy of a first strike for the club from new signing Jayden Adams and a Tashreeq Matthews brace), while the Buccaneers had to work a little harder for their 2-1 triumph away to Sekhukhune United. Pirates led 2-0 via goals from Deon Hotto and Makhehlene Makhaula, but had to endure a tense finale after Linda Mntambo pulled one back for Babina Noko.

Sundowns are unbeaten in domestic football since their shock defeat at the hands of Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final in November last year, and they have racked up six wins and a draw across all competitions since a narrow 1-0 reverse away to Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League back in early January (though the Brazilians still advanced to the quarterfinals of the continental club tournament).

Meanwhile, Pirates have put together a five-game winning streak across all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City a month ago (also securing a place in the last eight of the Champions League in the process), so it’s safe to say that both teams are in outstanding form heading into this heavyweight bout.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso insists that his team still has room for improvement:

“We have steps to go forward. Today there were lots of young players and players that have just arrived at the club. The team has to grow, but that does not mean we’re not in a good place. The result in the end may give us the idea that the match was simple, but the match was not simple. It was important to produce the goals in the moments we created.”

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro believes his team is riding high in the midst of a demanding week:

“Anyway, one more game to put in our bag in terms of resilience. We’re coming from a derby, a tough one. It was a really demanding week for the team. And for the behaviour of the team, the performance was second to none.”

KEY PLAYERS

Lucas Ribeiro, Mamelodi Sundowns

The Brazilian attacker put on a superb display against SuperSport United in midweek, demonstrating his passing, vision and shooting ability. Ribeiro tore United’s defence to shreds and will be hoping to have a similar impact against Pirates on Saturday afternoon.

Makhehlene Makhaula, Orlando Pirates

The veteran midfielder put in a tireless performance in the Soweto derby last weekend, and followed it up with the decisive goal in a 2-1 win away to Sekhukhune United in midweek. Makhaula will want to continue his great form in the ‘engine room’ when Pirates head to Pretoria on Saturday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In head-to-head stats, Sundowns and Pirates have met in 79 league matches dating back to 1985 (the start of the professional NSL era). The Brazilians have claimed 37 wins compared to 21 for the Buccaneers, while 21 games have been drawn.

Sundowns are unbeaten in their last nine league matches against Pirates, though the most recent meeting of the team was last season’s Nedbank Cup final on 1 June 2024 which the Buccaneers won 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng.

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Pirates 1-0 Sundowns Mhango

2019/20 Sundowns 0-0 Pirates

2020/21 Sundowns 1-0 Pirates B. Onyango

2020/21 Pirates 0-3 Sundowns Nascimento (pen), Shalulile, Lakay

2021/22 Pirates 0-2 Sundowns Shalulile 2

2021/22 Sundowns 4-1 Pirates Zwane, Safranko 2, Shalulile; Makaringe

2022/23 Sundowns 2-0 Pirates Mvala, Mailula

2022/23 Pirates 0-1 Sundowns Mailula

2023/24 Pirates 0-1 Sundowns Ribeiro Costa (pen)

2023/24 Sundowns 1-1 Pirates Allende; Xoki (pen)