Evolving Sundowns take aim at Gallants

Miguel Cardoso’s Mamelodi Sundowns will hope to continue their tactical evolution when they welcome Marumo Gallants for a catch-up Betway Premiership fixture, set for the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night.

Kick-off at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

FORM AND TEAM NEWS

Sundowns come into the match having played a 1-1 draw in their heavyweight bout away to Kaizer Chiefs this past weekend – with Cassius Mailula rising off the bench to head the equaliser for the Brazilians at the FNB Stadium.

Sundowns have not fully hit their stride – especially in the wake of the tragic passing of Jayden Adams and injury-enforced absences for the likes of Nuno Santos, Teboho Mokoena and Keanu Cupido – but they have begun to tweak their tactics under coach Miguel Cardoso, becoming more unpredictable and dangerous as a result.

Gallants, meanwhile, have endured a challenging opening to the 2026/27 season. They kicked off their league campaign last midweek with a 0-0 draw at home to rookies Kruger United, and followed that up with a 3-1 defeat away to Stellenbosch FC on Friday evening.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are also finding their identity and rhythm under new coach Phuti Mohafe, but they cannot afford a long adaptation period, as the pressure of being in the bottom third of the log standings builds quickly – even at this early stage of the campaign.

We're under the lights at Loftus this Wednesday 👆

⚽ Mamelodi Sundowns vs Marumo Gallants
🏆 Betway Premiership
📆 19 August
⏰ 19H30
🏟 Loftus Versfeld
📺 SS 202
Secure your ticket for just R50 🎟️ https://t.co/pgYDB7S0hQ #Sundowns #BetwayPrem #NeverStopRising pic.twitter.com/wzTYqCLtFP
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 17, 2026

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso on his team’s tactical evolution:

“Sometimes outside, what I see now is that the team became much more dynamic in the way the team builds; it seems the contacts to control our game are more difficult.

"So, there are more challenges for the opponents because they don't really know what is gonna happen, and that is obviously a key that a coach can have.”

Marumo Gallants coach Phuti Mohafe on the defeat to Stellenbosch:

“The way we lost [to Stellenbosch] was so uncalled for after we gave away two easy goals against the run of play. This performance did not meet our standards.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mamelodi Sundowns – Cassius Mailula

The 25-year-old attacker has scored two vital goals as a substitute this season: the decisive strike in an extra-time 3-2 win over Polokwane City in the MTN8, and the equaliser in this past weekend’s 1-1 league draw away to Chiefs. Whether as a starter or a sub, Mailula will have a role to play against Gallants in midweek.

Marumo Gallants – Thapelo Dhludhlu

With the consolation goal against Stellenbosch this past weekend, Dhludhlu became the first Gallants player to find the back of the net in 2026/27. The 21-year-old winger will hope to make an even bigger impression in this high-profile clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sundowns boast an unbeaten record against Gallants, with six wins and two draws from the teams’ eight league meetings since 2021/22. The Brazilians took four points off Bahlabane ba Ntwa last season, with a 1-1 draw in Limpopo in September 2025 and a 3-1 home win in March 2026.

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2021/22 Gallants 0-4 Sundowns Zwane, Shalulile 2, Safranko

2021/22 Sundowns 1-1 Gallants Kapinga; Ndlondlo (pen)

2022/23 Sundowns 1-0 Gallants Mkhulise

2022/23 Gallants 0-2 Sundowns Morena, Zwane

2024/25 Sundowns 4-1 Gallants Matthews, Rayners, Ribeiro, Mkhulise; Mhango

2024/25 Gallants 1-3 Sundowns Dion; Allende, Ribeiro, Rayners

2025/26 Gallants 1-1 Sundowns Cupido (og); Rayners

2025/26 Sundowns 3-1 Gallants Ntiya-Ntiya (og), Mokoena 2; Ndlondlo (pen)

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2021/22)

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