Mamelodi Sundowns can take a significant step towards a ninth consecutive Betway Premiership title when they host Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night.
Sundowns need just three wins from their remaining four Betway Premiership fixtures to confirm a ninth consecutive league title.
The first of those opportunities arrives on Wednesday evening when Kaizer Chiefs make the trip to Loftus Versfeld. Kick-off is at 19:30 and
Sundowns head into this fixture sitting five points clear of Orlando Pirates at the top of the table with 64 points from 28 games.
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Their most recent league outing produced a comfortable 3-0 win over Polokwane City, making it three wins from their last five matches. They have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven league games and won 12 of their last 14 – a record that underlines how difficult they have been to break down.
The return of Nuno Santos to full fitness is an encouraging sign for coach Miguel Cardoso ahead of one of the season’s most high-profile fixtures.
Chiefs arrive in very different circumstances. Amakhosi ended a seven-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 defeat to Siwelele and have failed to score in two of their last three league outings.
They sit third on 47 points from 26 games, five points clear of the CAF Confederation Cup qualification spot, giving this fixture purpose even if the title is long beyond them. Rushwin Dortley and Etiosa Ighodaro are both unavailable.
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The head-to-head record across all competitions reads 30 wins for Sundowns, 29 for Chiefs and 22 draws from 81 meetings. Recent trends at Loftus, however, tell a different story – Sundowns have won their last four home league meetings against Chiefs, keeping a clean sheet in three of them. Chiefs have failed to score in their last three league encounters against Sundowns.
Sundowns are firm favourites. But this is a derby, and Kaizer Chiefs have nothing to lose.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
