It’s the acid test for Orlando Pirates tomorrow, when they hit the road to Tshwane to take on reigning league champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld.
The top-of-the table clash headlines another enthralling football weekend for TAB soccer customers who once again have multiple chances to land big wins, notably four cash-added pools and a R200,000 carryover Soccer Any 13 Xtra. There’s also a R16.5-million guaranteed Soccer 13 pot if there’s a single all-13-correct winner.For the first time in years Sundowns are not cruising to another league title at this stage of the season. Instead they are just six points ahead of Pirates, who could close the gap to three points tomorrow with a game in hand.
Pirates have had a good week. Patrick Maswanganyi's late penalty gave them a 1-0 win over Chiefs in last weekend's Soweto derby and they followed that midweek with a 2-1 win in a tricky away clash against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane.
They have a squad brimming with talent and a lethal attack force that delivers threats from all sides of the pitch. And Pirates will not be overawed by the occasion. The last time they clashed with Sundowns was in the Nedbank Cup final last season, when a brilliant late winner by Relebohile Mofokeng saw Pirates clinch the trophy. And they beat Sundowns in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the MTN8.
But make no mistake Sundowns are good. They slammed Golden Arrows 4-0 last Sunday and then demolished SuperSport United in Wednesday's Tshwane derby - their sixth successive victory in league games since new coach Miguel Cardoso arrived. With the likes of Peter Shalulile and Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro in their strike force backed by a squad overflowing with talent they are formidable rivals and tomorrow’s clash has all the makings of a thriller. Don’t miss it.
The match is included as M3 in Saturday’s R150,000-added Soccer 10, in which there look to be three standout banker bets - Cape Town City to win away at Magesi (M2), English Premiership outfit Fulham to sink lower-tier Wigan away (M9) and Athletic Bilbao to win at home against Girona (M10).
SOCCER 10 V2 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: AmaZulu vs Marumo Gallants | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Here’s a great bet to play if you want to spice up Friday night. The pool kicks off with a R150,000 cash bonus and looks sure to produce a substantial payout. AmaZulu have three wins and a draw from their last five games, while Gallants suffered their first defeat in five games against Richards Bay midweek. Gallants won 1-0 in their previous meeting in September. AmaZulu are ninth in the table with 20 points, five more than Gallants. | |||
| M2: Stellenbosch vs Kaizer Chiefs | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Stellenbosch are unbeaten in their last three games and Chiefs have won four of their last eight. Chiefs won the previous meeting 2-1 and have won five of the last seven clashes. Chiefs are fifth with 22 points, three more than seventh-placed Stellenbosch who have played three games less. | |||
| M3: Nantes vs Stade Brest | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Nantes are unbeaten in their last three French Ligue 1 games, while Brest have won six of their last 10 in all competitions. Brest won 2-1 in their recent cup meeting and have won four of the last seven clashes. Brest are eighth with 28 points, seven ahead of Nantes after 20 games. | |||
| M4: Sturm Graz vs Austria Vienna | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Top-of-the-table battle in the Austrian Bundesliga. Sturm Graz have lost five of their last nine games and Vienna are unbeaten in 15. Vienna won the last two meetings 2-0, but Sturm Graz lead the table by three points. | |||
| M5: Como vs Juventus | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Como have lost their last two games, while Juventus are winless in seven of their last nine. Juventus won 3-0 when they last met in August and are fourth in Serie A with 40 points, 18 ahead of Como. | |||
| M6: KV Mechelen vs Gent | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Gent are unbeaten in their last four league games, while Mechelen are winless in their last 10 across all competitions. Gent won the previous meeting 2-0 in September and have won five of the last seven encounters with Mechelen winning just once. Gent are sixth in Belgium’s First Division A with 36 points, nine ahead of Mechelen. | |||
| M7: Shelbourne vs Drogheda United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Irish Super Cup and the start of a new season. League winners Shelbourne have won one of their last five and Drogheda two. Drogheda won the last clash between the two 3-0 last month and in their last three meetings, each side has won once with one draw. | |||
| M8: FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Primeira Liga leaders Sporting are unbeaten in their last three games and lead Porto by nine points. Both have won three times in their last seven clashes. | |||
| M9: Manchester United vs Leicester City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| FA Cup. United have won five of their last seven games, while Leicester City have lost eight of their last 10. United won 3-0 in their previous meeting in November. | |||
| M10: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Valladolid | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Vallecano are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 games, while Real Valladolid have lost their last three LaLiga matches. Vallecano are sixth with 32 points, 17 ahead of Valladolid. | |||
Suggested R144 perm: 1,2 x 2 x 1 x 1 x 3 x 2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1,2 x 1.
SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: Celta de Vigo vs Real Betis | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Competitive LaLiga clash kicks off this R150,000-added pool. Celta are winless in their last five games, whereas Betis have won five of their last 10. Betis are four points ahead of Celta in LaLiga after 22 games. Their last meeting ended 2-2. | |||
| M2: Magesi vs Cape Town City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Magesi are winless in their last 11 games, while City have lost six of their last 11 and drew midweek. City are sixth in the PSL with 22 points, 13 more than 16th-placed Magesi. | |||
| M3: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| PSL top-of-the-table clash. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last six and Pirates have won five in a row. Pirates won the last meeting between the two 2-1. | |||
| M4: Coventry City vs Ipswich Town | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| FA Cup. Championship outfit Coventry were seeking their sixth successive win when beaten 2-0 by log-leaders Leeds United midweek, while Ipswich have lost their last four Premier League games and are battling. | |||
| M5: Everton vs Bournemouth | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| FA Cup. Everton are on a three-game winning streak in the EPL and Bournemouth lost for the first time in 10 games when beaten 2-0 by log-leaders Liverpool last weekend. | |||
| M6: Preston North End vs Wycombe Wanderers | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Preston have won five of their last nine games in the Championship, while Wycombe are flying high in League One and are unbeaten in their last five. | |||
| M7: Southampton vs Burnley | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Southampton are swerving in the EPL and have lost seven of their last 10 games, while Burnley are unbeaten in their last 10 and are in the running to regain EPL status. Great FA Cup clash. | |||
| M8: Stoke City vs Cardiff City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Stoke City have avoided defeat in seven of their last eight games, while Cardiff City have avoided defeat in eight of their last nine. In their last six meetings, Cardiff have won twice with four draws. | |||
| M9: Wigan Athletic vs Fulham | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Wigan have lost four of their last eight League One games and now face EPL club Fulham, who have won three of their last five and are ninth in the table. Tough for Wigan if Fulham field many of their regulars. | |||
| M10: Athletic Bilbao vs Girona | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Bilbao are unbeaten in their last three games, while Girona have lost seven of their last 10.Both sides have won three of their last seven encounters. Bilbao are fourth with 41 points, 10 ahead of seventh-placed Girona after 22 games. | |||
Suggested R192 perm: 1,2 x 3 x 1,2,3 x 2,3 x 2,3 x 1 x 1,2 x 1,2 x 3 x 1.