Tuesday sees Mamelodi Sundowns open their Betway Premiership season with a local derby against Supersport and we also take a look at Wednesday's match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United
Sundowns v Supersport (Tuesday)
Downs are bidding to make it 8 league titles in a row and last season they came close to going through the whole campaign without tasting defeat in a league game. They threw in some indifferent performances in the MTN8 recently, edging their way past Polokwane 1-0 in the quarters before losing both legs of their semi final match up with Stellenbosch by a 1-0 scoreline. However at the weekend they thrashed Mbabane Swallows 4-0 in the CAF Champions League in Atteridgeville.
Gavin Hunt remains in charge of Supersport who finished 7th last season with a youthful squad. Their league meetings with Downs in 2023/24 saw them lose the first game 2-0 but they came away with a creditable 1-1 draw in the return. In early August they went down 3-1 away to Pirates in the MTN8 quarter finals in Orlando although the Bucs needed extra time to get the job done.
The Betting
Sundowns are 9/20 to win the game with the draw at 3/1 and Supersport can be backed at 58/10
The Verdict:
After years of dominance Sundowns are unbackable in the outright betting to win the title yet again. Their recent MTN8 performances hardly set the pulse racing but the hit out in the CAF CL at the weekend will have done them no harm.
For a betting interest I'm with 2-3 goals in total regardless of which team comes out on top. We had success with this bet in one of last Saturday's league games and this outcome has arrived in 3 of the last 4 PSL head to heads between the sides.
Bets: Goal Range 2-3 at even money with Betway
Pirates v Chippa United (Wednesday)
The Bucs were distant runners up to Sundowns in the league last season but they have had success in knockout football and they will be contesting the final of the MTN8 against Stellenbosch in the near future. You have to go back to 2012 for their last league title and you can get almost 14/1 about them winning the title this season with Betway..
Pirates saw off Supersport 3-1 in a MTN8 quarter final on home turf to set up a two legged semi final with Cape Town City. They drew the first leg 1-1 away from home and finished the job with a 2-0 win on home turf. They have also been involved in CAF Champions League qualifying and at the weekend they were in Botswana where they ran out 2-0 winners against Jwaneng Galaxy.
There is a new look about Chippa who were 12th last season and they have a dismal head to head record against Pirates, losing 16 of the last 20 head to heads in any competition.
The Betting
Pirates are 7/20 to win the game with the draw at 36/10 and Chippa can be backed at 7/1
The Verdict:
Pirates look as well equipped as any to mount a challenge but the depth of the squad will be tested should they go deep in the CAF CL and domestic cups.
A shortish turnaround from the Botswana trip might be of some concern for Bucs fans but at this early stage fitness should be on their side after a busy start to the current campaign. I'm with Pirates to win the game with a clean sheet.
Bets: Which teams to score? Only Pirates at even money with Betway
Note, prices quoted are subject to change
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