Bucs out for revenge!

Bucs out for revenge!

With a R2,2-million Soccer 10 pool tomorrow, bettors will probably look to Orlando Pirates as a possible banker when they face Kaizer Chiefs in the first of the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, despite the Buccaneers going down to their Soweto rivals twice this season.

By Mark Gleeson

The Nedbank Cup semi-final draw has thrown up another Soweto derby for the season and a real chance tomorrow for Orlando Pirates to make up for two unfortunate defeats at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs in league action this term.

Chiefs won in October with a goal from the halfway line and again in February from a last gasp own-goal in two fluky wins when the two Soweto rivals met at Soccer City.

Given the contrast in form since that last meeting, Pirates start as favourites for the cup tie and a chance for a second piece of silverware this season after their success in the MTN8.

Sunday’s other semi-final sees Stellenbosch enjoy home advantage over Sekhukhune United as both clubs look to book a first-ever visit to a cup final. Both are capable of winning this tie but the fact that the game will be played in the Winelands, gives the home side a slight advantage.

Tomorrow is cup final night in Spain as Real Madrid start as favourites against Osasuna, who have only ever played in the Copa del Rey decider once previously and lost in 2005.

On paper it would seem a mismatch but Real lost on Wednesday for the second midweek in a row, this time 0-2 at Real Sociedad.

This was always going to be a tough game, as they were missing key players like the suspended Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius, the injured Luka Modric and their top scorer Karim Benzema, who was mysteriously left out of the matchday squad.

But it will give Osasuna real hope of a sensational upset.

The leadership of the Bundesliga has changed hands between defending champions Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund several times in last weeks as Dortmund fail to capitalise on the unrest within the Bavarian outfit. Both clubs are expected to win this weekend, which will then leave Bayern still one point clear as they look to take the title for a 11th successive season.

New Major League Soccer expansion team St Louis City have had a dream start under South African coach Bradley Carnell but there are pundits who think the wheels might be coming off now. We are officially in the first stretch of adversity for the league’s newest team as they have lost three of their last five. This weekend is another tough tie as they head away to take on Dallas.