This weekend, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs will face off for the third time this season, with the reigning PSL champions hosting Amakhosi at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Form Guide
Sundowns, who have dominated the league this season, sit comfortably at the top of the standings with an impressive 17 wins from their opening 19 matches. In contrast, Chiefs find themselves in a much more challenging position, sitting in eighth place after securing just seven victories from 18 games. They are trailing Sundowns by a significant 26 points, highlighting the disparity in form between the two sides.
Amakhosi come into this fixture on the back of a tough 4-1 loss to SuperSport United, while Sundowns maintained their winning ways with a 4-2 triumph over Sekhukhune United. Despite this difference in recent form, Chiefs’ head coach Nasreddine Nabi emphasized in his pre-match press conference that Sundowns cannot afford to approach this match complacently. He stressed that it would be naïve for the league leaders to assume that victory is guaranteed, especially considering Chiefs’ ability to surprise when least expected.
Sundowns have had the upper hand in their previous two encounters with Chiefs this season, winning both matches — a dominant 4-0 victory in the Carling Knockout Cup and a 2-1 win in the league. These results, combined with their exceptional form, have given them a commanding 15-point lead over second placed Orlando Pirates.
Player Spotlight
A subplot to watch will be the return of Kaizer Chiefs striker Tashreeq Morris to Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Morris made the move from SuperSport United to Chiefs in January and had previously spent a short stint with Matsatsantsa, making 11 appearances and scoring two goals at the stadium.
One of his goals came against Chiefs, and now, in his first match back at Lucas Moripe as an opponent, Morris will be hoping to make it a memorable return.
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 15:30 on Saturday, 01 March and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary. The match will be broadcast live on satellite TV giants SuperSport channel 202 and can be streamed on Showmax.
Lucas Moripe Stadium
The 28 900 seater stadium will host the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. The Pretoria based stadium was refurbished ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and served as a training venue for the German national football team during the global spectacle.
Named after former local soccer player Lucas Moripe, the stadium is the part-time home stadium of Mamelodi Sundowns, the powerhouse of the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Mamelodi Sundowns 13/20 | Draw 5/2 | Kaizer Chiefs 52/10
I think a big win for Sundowns is on the cards – back the home side on the win and over 3.5 goals at 36/10.