DStv Premiership Preview: SuperSport United
20 August, 2022
Orlando Pirates remain on the road ahead of their next task, a visit to Lucas Moripe Stadium where they are due to face SuperSport United in a DStv Premiership encounter on Sunday evening.
The two sides close out the weekend’s League action with a highly-anticipated clash as the Buccaneers seek to consolidate their spot in the top half of the table, while the hosts will hope a victory digs them out of unfamiliar territory in the lower end of the standings.
Form Guide
With three games played, Matsatsansa are still looking for their first triumph of the season, having claimed a single point through a draw in their season opener at home to Chippa United.
They have since fared worse, losing 2-1 away to AmaZulu before failing to score in a 2-0 defeat to TS Galaxy.
United currently reside in 14th place in the standings, and Coach Gavin Hunt will be keen to oversee a change of fortunes on Sunday, as he searches for his first victory on his return to the club.
His Bucs counterpart José Riveiro goes into the clash looking to build on a hard-fought midweek win away to Royal AM, which propped his side up to fourth in the log.
Pirates have played four games so far, where they have managed two victories, with one draw and a defeat.
A win in Tshwane has the potential to catapult them to the summit, depending on the weekend’s other results, as they are currently one of four teams tied on seven points.
Team News
The Buccaneers have a mostly clean bill of health, with new recruit Evidence Makgopa’s debut delayed due to injury.
With just a few days between fixtures, some changes can be expected as the Technical Team aims to keep the squad fresh amid what continues to be a grueling match schedule.
United, on the other hand, will be sweating over the availability of Captain Onismor Bhasera, who hasn’t featured since being stretchered off during the opening half of his side’s season opener.
In a bid to find a winning formula, the hosts are expected to make some changes of their own, with regulars from the previous campaign such as Keenan Phillips and Guily Manziba still yet to feature this season.
Key Players
Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates): Having arrived at the Buccaneers with proven pedigree, the 27-year-old has seamlessly fit into the centre of the defence in no time, making vital contributions since the start of the season. With Pirates playing away, another solid defensive effort will be required in Tshwane, and Sibisi’s grit and determination will be crucial to the team’s cause.
Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United): The veteran striker may have missed out on a huge chunk of last season through injury, but has marked his return by getting on the scoresheet in United’s season opener. A regular feature in the race for the Golden Boot when fit, Grobler will want to put his stamp on proceedings on Sunday by finding the net against the Soweto Giants.
Head-to-Head
In both instalments of this fixture last season, it was the home team that came out victorious, with Pirates clinching a come-from-behind 3-2 win in Soweto, while United returned the favour with a 2-0 triumph in Atteridgeville.
The two sides have played each other constantly since the advent of the Premier Soccer League and in their last 36 meetings, Matsatsansa hold a slight upper hand with 14 wins to the Bucs’ 13, while only nine games have ended in stalemates.
It is just as tight in terms of goals scored during this period, with the Soweto Giants trailing their Tshwane counterparts by only two, having found the net 43 times in this fixture.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs SuperSport United
The game is scheduled to kick off at 17:30, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL (Channel 202). You can also follow the live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
