League soccer returns to Orlando Stadium this weekend as Orlando Pirates host Cape City Metropolis within the Betway Premiership.
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It’s a Saturday afternoon kick-off in Soweto with the hosts again in acquainted environment after a disruption to their schedule earlier within the week.
What would have been the Buccaneers’ first recreation of the week was deserted on Wednesday as a result of a waterlogged pitch in Hammarsdale and focus has now turned to their conflict towards the Residents, who’re again on the highway after their very own midweek residence task.
Saturday’s fixture additionally marks the midway level of the house aspect’s Betway Premiership marketing campaign as they give the impression of being to strengthen their cost for the highest prize.
Kind information
With three video games in hand, they continue to be in second place within the standings with the hole between themselves and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns now at 12 factors following the postponement of the match towards Golden Arrows.
They’re residence for the second week working following their Nedbank Cup Spherical of 16 win towards Baroka, gearing as much as take to the sector in what’s the first Betway Premiership recreation at Orlando Stadium since their 8-1 routing of Marumo Gallants in December.
Orlando Pirates have had another residence recreation since that emphatic outcome, beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in a dramatic Soweto derby held at FNB Stadium.
That win plus victories away to Magesi and Sekhukhune United have raised their factors tally to 9 of their 5 most up-to-date outings – a determine that might have been higher if not for defeats away to Metropolis and Sundowns.
They may nonetheless relish taking part in in a well-known backdrop, having collected 21 of their 33 league factors in Soweto.
Standing between them and victory is a aspect seeking to emerge from a troublesome interval after final experiencing victory in mid-January.
That win from a little bit over a month in the past is the one constructive outcome of their final 5 video games and is chargeable for the majority of the 4 factors earned throughout this era, the place they’ve additionally skilled cup disappointment within the type of an early cup exit.
As they head to Orlando, the Residents are on a run of three straight defeats away from residence.
They continue to be the joint-worst performers on the highway throughout the league, tied with Gallants at simply 4 away factors.
Presently occupying tenth place with the possibility to re-enter the highest eight ought to they prevail on Saturday, they are going to be desirous to spoil the Soweto giants’ league homecoming by turning into solely the second group to defeat them in their very own yard this season.
Group information
The guests can be with out assistant coach Lebohang Manyama, who can be lacking from their dugout as a result of a red-card suspension.
They may also miss the companies of former Bucs midfielder Fortune Makaringe as he nurses an ankle damage that has saved him out of motion since October.
Orlando Pirates in the meantime have a midfield absentee of their very own within the type of Kabelo Dlamini, who serves a one-match ban.
That division has nonetheless been bolstered by the return of Thalente Mbatha together with Goodman Mosele, each match after spells on the sidelines.
Key gamers
Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The Bucs striker has had success towards Metropolis previously, and crosses paths with them once more only a week after bagging his second hat-trick of the season. Mabasa’s anticipation and motion in and across the opposition field make him the proper objective poacher whereas additionally threatening together with his aerial prowess and the flexibility to strike from vary.
Darwin Gonzalez (Cape City Metropolis): With the uncanny potential to lift his recreation in massive fixtures, Gonzalez was the distinction in Metropolis’s final encounter with Pirates and can look to provide extra of the identical at Orlando Stadium. The 30-year-old shouldn’t be solely an element together with his creativity in open play, but additionally poses a big risk come set-piece time.
Head-to-head
The 2 sides lock horns for the fourth time this season after contesting two legs of the MTN8 semi-finals early within the marketing campaign, together with January’s Betway Premiership conflict. The earlier video games have produced all three doable outcomes, with Orlando Pirates discovering success within the cup whereas Metropolis go into Saturday’s recreation seeking to full a league double.
The Citizen’s current league win additionally implies that issues are even beneath the outcomes column of their rivalry with the Soweto giants, with victories sitting at 5 apiece whereas the opposite eight matches couldn’t produce a winner. The Buccaneers nonetheless lead the objective stakes, having discovered the web 22 occasions whereas letting in 18 objectives.
The hosts nonetheless stay unbeaten at Orlando Stadium with 4 wins and as many stalemates within the eight video games performed. In addition they have a cushty lead by way of objectives, claiming a wholesome share of 12 out of the 18 scored in Soweto.
TV protection and ticket data
The match is ready to kick off at 15:30, with dwell protection accessible on SuperSport PSL.
Tickets can be found on the market on-line on TicketPro in addition to chosen retailers nationwide.
Prediction
Orlando Pirates 2-0 Cape City Metropolis FC
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