The bread and butter business of the DStv Premiership resumes this week with a number of interesting match-ups after the Nedbank Cup, last 16 took centre stage. It is another opportunity for the chasing pack at the top half of the table to catch up with top of the table Mamelodi Sundowns who will only return to league action on 21 March. Sundowns are inactive in the league because of their commitments in the Caf Champions League and the Nedbank Cup. As a result of this, the likes of SuperSport United, Swallows, Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows will fancy their chances of closing the gap or even overtake Sundowns at the top of the standings. The next few games are also an opportunity for struggling teams like Maritzburg United, Black Leopards, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) and Stellenbosch to move out of the relegation zone.
Orlando Pirates vs Bloemfontein Celtic
Tuesday, 02 March 2021
- Pirates – 0.67
- Celtic – 4.30
- Draw – 2.44
Orlando Pirates will fancy their chances going getting a positive result from this match because Bloemfontein Celtic have been blowing hot and cold in recent league matches. As a result of their recent run of two matches without winning, Celtic have dropped to 11th spot on the standings and they will be desparate to return back to winnings ways when they visit Orlando Stadium on Tuesday. On the other hand, Pirates have ambitions of their own and coach Josef Zinnbauer and his troops will be looking for three points that will keep them up to speed with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Maritzburg United vs Black Leopards
Tuesday, 02 March 2021
- Maritzburg – 1.46
- Leopards – 2.03
- Draw – 2.09
This is the battle of the strugglers. Maritzburg, who were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup by Orlando Pirates at the weekend, go into this match sitting at the bottom of the log and faced with a mountain to climb to revive their campaign. They have lost their last four league matches and coach Ernst Middendorp and his men cannot afford to drop more points which will pile more pressure on them. Leopards, who are sitting second from the bottom, go into this match on the back of a morale boosting 1-0 win over AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup at the weekend. Leopards are on some sort of a resurgence as they also won their last league match against Golden Arrows and they will want to continue on a winning note.
TS Galaxy vs Swallows
Tuesday, 02 March 2021
- Galaxy – 3.05
- Swallows – 0.97
- Draw – 2.21
Swallows are currently on a lacklustre spell of six consecutive draws in the league where they have lost considerable ground of pacesetters Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United. Their problems were compounded at the weekend when they were dumped out of the Nedbank Cup by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM). To get back to winning ways in the league, they will have the better of unpredictable Galaxy who are also desparate for points to improve their position on the middle of the table. A win for Galaxy, who won their last league match against Bloemfontein Celtic, will force them into the top eight bracket.
AmaZulu vs SuperSport United
Tuesday, 02 March 2021
- AmaZulu – 1.86
- SuperSport – 1.56
- Draw – 2.13
This is an interesting match for SuperSport as they can draw level on points with log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with 36 points even though they would have played three more games. To get all the three points, SuperSport will have to overcome their recent undesirable form where they have dropped four points from a possible six in successive draws with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. A win is not going to be easy against AmaZulu who are the form team in the league currently following four wins and a draw in their last five matches.
Chippa United vs Cape Town City
Wednesday, 03 March 2021
- Chippa – 2.24
- CT City – 1.32
- Draw – 2.11
This will be the second meeting between these two teams in a space of three days after Chippa defeated CT City 2-1 after extra time in the Nedbank Cup, last 16 on Sunday. Pressure will be on CT City who goes into this clash on the back of a four match winless streak in all competitions due to the fact that they are playing away from home. For Chippa, they will be hoping to transfer their cup form to the league where they have been through a lean patch in their last three matches after suffering two draws and one loss.
Golden Arrows vs Baroka
Wednesday, 03 March 2021
- Arrows – 1.00
- Baroka – 2.86
- Draw – 2.33
This match has the potential to be explosive because these two teams like to play attacking and free flowing football, Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi will be eying three points that could leapfrog them to third spot on the log but will only happen if SuperSport United, Swallows and Orlando Pirates drop points. This match is also an opportunity for Arrows to return to winning ways after they were stunned by struggling Black Leopards in their last match. For Baroka coach Matsimela Thoka, a win will see them maintain their eight position while at the same time putting pressure on Cape Town City above them and moving away from TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs below them.
