Mamelodi Sundowns host Orlando Pirates on Saturday in a crucial match that could decide the outcome of the 2025/26 PSL season.
This is first versus third in a good, old-fashioned six-pointer that both know they need to win but also know they can’t afford to lose.
This league has recently been owned by Sundowns. They must strike now if Pirates want to end their opponents’ remarkable string of eight league titles on the bounce.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
Mamelodi Sundowns VS Orlando Pirates Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Mamelodi Sundowns VS Orlando Pirates Date: Saturday, November 1
Mamelodi Sundowns VS Orlando Pirates Odds:
- Mamelodi Sundowns -26/23
- Orlando Pirates – 59/20
- Draw – 39/20
History
This is the third meeting of the rivals this season, though the match on Saturday is the first league clash of the campaign. The previous two games were in the semi-final of the MTN8 Cup, which Pirates won on penalties after an aggregate draw.
Sundowns top the table with 21 points from eight games: six wins, three draws, and one defeat. They haven’t played in the league in over a month, with their last PSL fixture being a 4-1 win over Richards Bay on September 27. Their one defeat in the league was in the previous round, a 1-0 loss on the road against Golden Arrows.
The Pirates’ last league game was on October 22, when they beat Polokwane City 1-0 at home. The Buccaneers are third on the log, with 18 points. They are the only undefeated team left in the comp, and they have reeled off six wins in a row after drawing their first two matches of the season.
Interestingly, the Pirates are averaging more points per game than the Sundowns. If the two squads were to maintain their current point averages for the rest of the season, then the Buccaneers would be crowned champions.
Sundowns
Themba Zwane is still missing for the Sundowns as the 36-year-old recovers from an injury picked up in early September. Zwane is back in training, but this game will likely come too quickly for the inspirational midfielder to return.
Pirates
Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been stressing that his team needs to finish better to increase the pressure on their opponents during matches. The Buccaneers are creating plenty of chances, but they have been inefficient in front of goal, which could potentially cost them vital points as the season wears on.
Best Bets
The stats historically suggest there should be goals in this one. The last time the Buccaneers and the Brazilians played out a goalless draw was in the 2019/20 season.
This has also been a game in which the teams are hard to separate. In their last ten meetings, Sundowns have won four, Pirates three, and three have ended in a draw.
When Sundowns were hosts, they were in control. The last time the Buccaneers won at their rivals was in 2019, with four Sundowns wins and three draws since then. The aggregate score in those games is 12-3 in favor of the hosts.
Having said all that, the Bucs are the form team. I like them to win at 59/20. If you want a bet builder, Pirates to win, over 2.5 goals in the match, and both teams to score pays out at 17/2.
