Pirates eye 2nd spot with SuperSport win

Orlando Pirates will tussle it out with SuperSport United at the iconic Orlando Stadium in what will be their last DStv Premiership match of the season on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Buccaneers are winless in their last two matches having succumbed to a 1-0 loss to TS Galaxy away on 18 May and it was also their second successive defeat.

Pirates are occupying the third spot in the DStv Premiership standings - a point behind second-placed Stellenbosch FC with the two teams desperate to finish second and qualify for the 2024/25 CAF Champions League.

Meanwhile, SuperSport extended their unbeaten run to four matches when they secured a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Moroka Swallows at home on 18 May.

Matsatsantsa are occupying the fifth spot in the DStv Premiership standings - a point behind fourth-placed TS Galaxy with the two teams looking to secure a top-four finish.

TEAM NEWS

Pirates will be without the services of Nkosinathi Sibisi who is suspended while Tapelo Xoki's season is over after undergoing surgery.

SuperSport, on the other hand, have no suspension worries and the team will welcome back Shandre Campbell who was suspended against Swallows.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

“We need to win the game against SuperSport on Saturday and wait for Stellenbosch don't have a good day and if they have a good day," Riveiro said.

"Then they’ll be in the Champions League next season and that’d be well deserved for them."

SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt

“We worked hard and then we took our foot out of the game [against Swallows]," Hunt said.

"It was stressful because we could have controlled it a bit better and we didn’t but you have to take things into account... Over the 90 minutes, I think we deserved it.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tshegofatso Mabasa, Orlando Pirates: Having failed to score in his last two matches and also leading the race for the league's Golden Boot award by one goal, the left-footed striker will be determined to score, and help the Buccaneers secure an important win.

Bradley Grobler, SuperSport United: The experienced striker has rediscovered his scoring form having netted in three of his last four matches and he will be keen to inspire his side to a victory having also scored in Matsatsantsa's 3-1 win over Pirates in the first round last December.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2018/19 SuperSport 1-0 Pirates Daniels

2019/20 SuperSport 3-0 Pirates Grobler 2, Lungu

2019/20 Pirates 2-1 SuperSport Pule, Lepasa; Fleurs

2020/21 Pirates 2-1 SuperSport Lepasa, Mabasa; Mokoena

2020/21 SuperSport 1-1 Pirates Motshwari (og); Pule

2021/22 Pirates 3-2 SuperSport Hoto 2 (2 pen), Mosele; Johannes, Lungu

2021/22 SuperSport 2-0 Pirates Makaringe (og), Lungu (pen)

2022/23 SuperSport 0-0 Pirates

2022/23 Pirates 1-0 SuperSport Xoki (pen)