Orlando Pirates are back in action this week as they do battle with SuperSport United in a Betway Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
This marks the second of three fixtures in just seven days for the Soweto giants, who now turn their attention to midweek league football.
They face a Matsatsantsa outfit also navigating a packed schedule, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for three crucial points.
Form guide
It’s a fixture that pits two sides with a bit to prove after experiencing similar fortunes in cup competition over the weekend.
Both Pirates and United exited the Carling Knockout Cup in the first round after defeat on home turf.
For the Buccaneers, the high of securing one cup title was immediately followed by the low of a premature end to their pursuit of another trophy.
This was courtesy of an upset at the hands of Magesi FC, who raced to a three-goal lead before withstanding a spirited fightback to claim a 3-2 win in Soweto.
It’s a result that ended Pirates’ unbeaten start to the season as well as a winning streak that had stretched to seven matches.
They remain undefeated in league football however, resuming action in second place in the standings after bagging wins in each of their three fixtures played so far.
Having gone past Chippa United, Polokwane City and Richards Bay, they now go in search of another three-point haul against their Gauteng rivals.
The Tshwane outfit meanwhile comes into the fixture reeling from a heavy defeat suffered in the hands of Kaizer Chiefs, which cut their cup run short.
It was their second early exit in cup football and yet another stutter in what has been a difficult start to the season.
In the Betway Premiership, SuperSport United currently sit in 12th place in the standings with only a single victory to their name with just a solitary goal and a total of four points in their four games.
Maximum points against the Buccaneers could place them within the top half of the table, sparking a much-needed boost in fortunes.
Team news
Matsatsantsa have had some high-profile absentees from their match day squads over the past few weeks with Grant Margeman and Bradley Grobler both yet to feature in the league.
The two players are likely to miss out once more as they continue to recover from injuries picked up earlier in the season.
There have also been a couple of additions to the Buccaneers’ injury list in the form of Olisa Ndah and Thalente Mbatha, while the likes of Thabiso Lebitso and Zakhele Lepasa continue to progress in their rehabilitation.
A return to the match day squad could also be on the cards for the likes of Makhehlene Makhaula and Miguel Timm, who both sat out the game against Magesi.
Key players
Deano van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates): Since debuting for the Buccaneers, the new signing has quickly settled in and has delivered consistent top-class performances. A tireless workhorse, Van Rooyen has not only excelled at shutting down opposition attacks but also made a significant impact in the other half of the field, breaking through defences with intelligent runs and precise passing.
Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport United): A proven goal poacher, the ex-Bucs forward’s recent form has seen him earn his way back into Zimbabwe’s national setup. Dzvukamanja has stepped up for the Tshwane outfit in the absence of some key men up front, and could pose a significant threat with his tenacity and eye for goal.
Head-to-head
Pirates and United will be crossing paths for the second time this season after opening their campaign with an MTN8 quarter-final clash at Orlando Stadium.
It was the hosts who prevailed on that occasion, winning 3-1 in extra time after the first 90 minutes finished deadlocked at a goal apiece.
Their most recent Betway Premiership encounter only dates back to the final match day of the previous season, where Tshegofatso Mabasa’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Gape Moralo with the game ending in a share of the spoils.
The result ensured that the Buccaneers finished the season without a league win over Matsatsantsa, who were victorious in the previous fixture.
Overall, matches between the two sides have been fiercely contested with very little to choose between them in the past 20 years.
Pirates do however hold the edge at Orlando Stadium, having won nine of the last 20 games, losing five times and drawing the other six.
TV coverage and ticket info
The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL.
Tickets to attend the game are available online on TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.
Prediction
Orlando Pirates 2-0 SuperSport United
Who wins?
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