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Richards Bay v Magesi
- Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
- Kickoff: 3pm SAST
- Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium, Durban
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A first-ever place in a prestigious final is up for grabs for both sides, who have never previously contested for cup silverware in the Premier Soccer League.
What they also have in common is that they are both former Motsepe Foundation Championship winners, with Richards Bay claiming the second tier title in 2022 and Magesi earlier this year to earn promotion to the Betway Premiership.
That Magesi have been able to reach a cup semifinal barely two months after kicking off their first-ever topflight campaign speaks volumes about the work of experienced coach Clinton Larsen, who won this trophy in 2012 when he was in charge at Bloemfontein Celtic. Magesi go into the tie unbeaten in their past six outings (W3 D3).
These sides have never met previously, neither in the topflight nor in the lower leagues.
Their first league clash is only due to be played at the end of January, with the return fixture in Polokwane in March.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Richards Bay’s second chance: It is a second time that Richards Bay have got this far in the Carling Knockout as they also hosted their semifinal tie last season at Umlazi, only to be handed a sound 3-0 beating by eventual winners Stellenbosch.
- Magesi’s away success: Magesi’s route to the semifinal has seen them upset Orlando Pirates 3-2 away and then take out last season’s runners-up TS Galaxy in Nelspruit on Sunday. They scored a single goal in their first four matches of the new campaign but have smashed in six goals in their subsequent four, even if their style of playing on the counterattack has not changed.
BETTING ANGLES
- Draw: Richards Bay rarely concede goals; it is the hallmark of their new coach Brandon Truter’s approach to the game. For him, shutting up shop defensively is priority. But it is also the way that Magesi play because as coach Larsen has already said this season, they do not have the quality to adopt a ball-playing style. Both clubs, therefore, will sit back and wait for counterattacks. This tussle looks headed for a penalty shootout to determine who plays in the final in Bloemfontein on November 23.
- Goals in the balance: Magesi have struck early against both Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in recent matches and would be odds-on to be the first side to score at Umlazi on Saturday … that is if either of the protagonists is to find the net.
- Under 2.5 Total Goals: Three of Richards Bay’ eight matches this season have ended goalless with seven goals in the other six fixtures. Of those seven goals, Richards Bay have netted two, with the other five being scored against them.
PREDICTION
Score Prediction: Richards Bay 0-0 Magesi
For the reasons already laid out, this tie looks like it will end in stalemate and the winner needed to decided by post-match penalties. Both teams will be nervous, too, as they look to seize a rare opportunity to go to a cup final.
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Marumo Gallants v Mamelodi Sundowns
- Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
- Kickoff: 3pm SAST
- Venue: Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein
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Marumo Gallants are making an immediate impact on their return to the topflight, having bought back their status by purchasing the Moroka Swallows franchise when they did not win immediate promotion after a single season down in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Their switch of home base from Polokwane to Bloemfontein sees the club with more support than they ever previously enjoyed.
Mamelodi Sundowns have had some indifferent results early on in this season after changing coach and there was some early pressure on new boss Manqoba Mngqithi after a double defeat by Stellenbosch in the MTN8 semifinals. But two months on, Sundowns look to be flying again and back to their dominant best.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Gallants nesting into new home: The club is originally from Limpopo, but owner Abram Sello saw a gap in the market and has moved Gallants to soccer-hungry Bloemfontein, which has been without a club since the demise of their beloved Celtic. So far, so good for Gallants, whose record in the Free State capital this season is W2, D1, L1.
- Sundowns’ morale advantage: The champions have already taken on Gallants this season, beating them convincingly 4-1 in Pretoria in late September. The Brazilians scored early and went onto record a comfortable triumph, emphasising the gulf in class between the two clubs.
BETTING ANGLES
- Sundowns to win: Sundowns are unbeaten in seven past clashes with Gallants with most of the matches markedly one-sided. They have six wins with the other game drawn.
- Over 2.5 Total Goals: Sundowns have scored nine goals in their last three games with Mngqithi turning to a deadly-looking three-man attack, made up of Iqraam Rayners, Lucas Ribiero and Peter Shalulile. They have the potential to overrun the rest of the teams in the Premier Soccer League.
- Clean sheet: Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has evidently been invigorated by his trip to Paris, as one of the 10 candidates for the Ballon d’Or Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Sundowns have kept three clean sheets since his return.
PREDICTION
- Score Prediction: Marumo Gallants 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Gallants will attempt to be defensively resolute, but Sundowns will surely eventually break through as their firepower is too strong for the hosts to be able to keep in check. Support in what should be a good crowd is likely to be evenly balanced and Sundowns players should thrive off the energy, while the more inexperienced Gallants will likely be nervy.
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Liverpool v Aston Villa
- Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
- Kickoff: 10pm SAST
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
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The Reds took full advantage of their nearest Premier League rivals slipping up at the weekend and go into this weekend’s found of fixtures with a two-point advantage at the top of the standings.
New manager Arne Slot does not look to be struggling in the shadow of the departed Jurgen Klopp with eight wins out of 10 league games, with the single slip up happening at home to Nottingham Forest in mid-September.
Aston Villa have blown hot and cold in the early part of the new league season, starting with four wins out of five but since finishing top in only one of their last five league fixtures.
Perhaps it is the distraction of the Champions League where Villa have kicked off their first campaign in 40 years in impressive fashion with three wins out of four, although they made a silly error to lose to Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Home dominance: Anfield is never the easiest place for any team to visit and in the case of Villa, they have not won there in the last 10 years. Liverpool rarely lose at home – only twice last season to Atalanta (Europa League) and Crystal Palace, and this season there was that surprise setback against Forest, although that seems to have been simply a one-off bad day at the office.
Confidence could be dented: Aston Villa, despite being in sixth place, come into this game after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Tottenham, which could impact their momentum. It was a disappointing result given Villa enjoyed 49 per cent of them possession and had 12 shots at goal. Villa have lost their last three games in all competitions and have a single victory in their last five in the Premier League (D3 L1).
BETTING ANGLES
- Liverpool to win: On top of Tuesday night’s impressive victory over German champions Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool are undefeated in their last six league games and have won three consecutive home encounters.
- Over 2.5 Total Goals: This is a strong possibility given both teams’ attacking prowess and recent form that suggests this will be a high scoring affair. Liverpool have scored an impressive nine goals at home this season while Villa have bagged a goal in every away game to date, netting 10 in total.
- Player to watch: Mohamed Salah remains a consistent force for the Reds, evidence by the quality of the winner against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. His future at Liverpool might be uncertain but the goals keep coming. He has seven in the league this season.
PREDICTION
- Score Prediction: Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1
Villa’s defence collapsed in the closing stages last weekend and after a midweek trip in the Champions League they could be fatigued for the fixture on Saturday, where Liverpool can be expected to exploit any weaknesses.
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Chelsea v Arsenal
- Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
- Kickoff: 6:30pm SAST
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
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Chelsea have played only once at home in their past four league games and will be delighted to be back at the Bridge for this London derby.
Inconsistency is the best description of the Blues this season, although they are in fourth place in the standings with 18 points from10 matches.
Arsenal are already being written off as credible title contenders after slipping seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The assertion is that to win the title in another exceedingly competitive field this season, they would need a near-perfect record, and they have already dropped too many points.
Their last three league outings have delivered a solitary point, and they lost in the Champions League on Wednesday.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Indifferent at home: Chelsea have the 11th best home record in the early stages of this Premier League season (W2 D2 L1). Their last Premier League game at Stamford Bridge was a 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United.
We do like to play the boys in Blue: Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Chelsea, winning four and averaging three goals per game. Their last clash in April was a home fixture for the Gunners which they won 5-0 but Chelsea have undergone a major overhaul since their previous campaign.
BETTING ANGLES
- Both teams to score (BTTS): This has happened in 51 per cent of the recent clashes between these two London rivals. Their last four meetings have delivered goals and both sides have enough quality in their attack to ensure that happens again.
- Over 2.5 Total Goals: Previous matches between Chelsea and Arsenal have averaged 2.81 goals per game.
- Picking up points: So far this season in the Premier League, Chelsea have averaged 1.6 points per game in their home matches and Arsenal 1.4 points per game on the road. Both sides have 18 from their opening 10 matches of the campaign and know they need to start gaining some momentum.
PREDICTION
- Score Prediction: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 2
This could be a Sunday thriller at Stamford Bridge with two sides trying hard to find some consistency but, in the end, having to settle for a share of the spoils. Rarely has it been a dull affair when these near neighbours meet.
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Inter v Napoli
- Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
- Kickoff: 9:45pm SAST
- Venue: San Siro, Milan
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Defending Italian champions Inter are looking for a fourth win in a row and to take advantage of the opportunity to knock Napoli off top place in the Italian league.
Inter were far from convincing in beating Venezia in their last league game but it cut the gap with leaders Napoli to a single point and they will head the table if they win this one.
Napoli do not have the distraction of competing in European club competition this season after finishing the last Serie A campaign way back in 10th place in a spectacularly unsuccessful defence of the Scudetto they won at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
The arrival of Antonio Conte has restored them already from the worst title defenders of all-time into genuine contenders again.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Inter on the comeback trail: Inter looked bereft of ideas in pre-season, and drew their opening game with Genoa 2-2 as the campaign started slowly. It has since included losing to arch-rivals AC Milan in a hotly contested Derby della Madonnina, plus a chaotic and unforgettable 4-4 draw at Juventus. The reigning Serie A champions missed a glorious opportunity to claim a memorable win on enemy turf. But Simone Inzaghi’s men have since risen into to second place.
- New signings adding energy: Napoli signed Romelu Lukaku, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour in the final week of August and all have made an impact. McTominay has been Napoli’s wildcard, allowing the coach to deploy a hybrid 4-3-3/4-2-4 as he moves forward from midfield to play as a second centre-forward.
BETTING ANGLES
- Both teams to score (BTTS): More than half of the Serie A matches involving Inter and Napoli this season have seen both sides score in the game. For Inter, the per centage is 64 per cent and Napoli 55 per cent.
- Under 2.5 Total Goals: The average goals scored per match for Inter Milan in Serie A this season is 2.27 while Napoli even less at 1.64.
- Little to choose between the two: The head-to-head record of the last 39 clashes between the two clubs sees Inter Milan marginally ahead with 14 wins while Napoli have won 13 times, and 12 ended in a draw. Napoli lead the goal count 54-44.
PREDICTION
- Score Prediction: Inter 1 Napoli 1
Given this is a top of the table clash, it could be a tad cagier and more cautious. Inter’s home advantage is perhaps nullified by the fact they played midweek against Arsenal in the Champions League, meaning Napoli will be the fresher of the two sides.
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Real Sociedad v Barcelona
- Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
- Kickoff: 10pm SAST
- Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastian
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Real Sociedad’s successes against Barcelona are rare and although they have won three of their last five LaLiga matches, to move up to 11th in the standings, they suffered a surprise 2-0 loss to Osasuna in their last home game.
But they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 away victory against Sevilla in their last league game.
Barcelona have already opened a nine-point gap at the top of LaLiga and if they keep up this form they will romp to the title. Hansi Flick’s arrival as the new coach was met with measured enthusiasm but he is seemingly doing everything right and getting the Catalans back to their best.
KEY BETTING INSIGHTS
- Poor home form: Real Sociedad's home form has been very poor with a single win in six matches, hardly the stuff to get the fans drooling. That includes four losses. They have been much better on the road, collecting 11 points from a possible 18 in away matches.
- Goal blitz: The five goals scored by Barcelona away in Serbia on Wednesday against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League took their total to 55 in their opening 16 games across all competitions this season – a new all-time club record. The current crop have beaten the previous best, which was held by the 1950-51 squad, who managed 54 across the same number of matches to begin the campaign.
BETTING ANGLES
- Barcelona to win: With so much momentum it is hard to see Barcelona not continuing with their winning ways and keeping up their handy lead at the top of the table. They have also been boosted by the return from injury of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Dani Olmo.
- First to score: Barcelona have won 10 of their 11 league matches this season, scoring 37 times in the process, with 14 of those coming from Robert Lewandowski, who has made an excellent start to the campaign.
- Over 2.5 Total Goals: Barcelona’s average goals per match alone this season is 3.33 with more scored in the second half than the first.
PREDICTION
- Score Prediction: Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 3
Real Sociedad have won only eight of 31 previous home games against Barcelona and that statistic looks as if it is going to get worse. The Catalans are in top form and unlikely to hit any wobbles for a while yet.