LIVE: Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town City FC

League football returns to Orlando Stadium this weekend as Orlando Pirates host Cape Town City in the Betway Premiership.

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It’s a Saturday afternoon kick-off in Soweto with the hosts back in familiar surroundings after a disruption to their schedule earlier in the week.

What would have been the Buccaneers’ first game of the week was abandoned on Wednesday due to a waterlogged pitch in Hammarsdale and focus has now turned to their clash against the Citizens, who are back on the road after their own midweek home assignment.

Saturday’s fixture also marks the halfway point of the home side’s Betway Premiership campaign as they look to strengthen their charge for the top prize.

Form guide

With three games in hand, they remain in second place in the standings with the gap between themselves and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns now at 12 points following the postponement of the match against Golden Arrows.

They’re home for the second week running following their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 win against Baroka, gearing up to take to the field in what is the first Betway Premiership game at Orlando Stadium since their 8-1 routing of Marumo Gallants in December.

Orlando Pirates have had one more home game since that emphatic result, 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 points tally to nine in their five most recent outings – a figure that could have been greater if not for defeats away to City and Sundowns.

They will nonetheless relish playing in a familiar backdrop, having collected 21 of their 33 league points in Soweto.

Standing between them and victory is a side looking to emerge from a difficult period after last experiencing victory in mid-January.

That win from a little over a month ago is the only positive result in their last five games and is responsible for the bulk of the four points earned during this period, where they’ve also experienced cup disappointment in the form of an early cup exit.

As they head to Orlando, the Citizens are on a run of three straight defeats away from home.

They remain the joint-worst performers on the road across the league, tied with Gallants at just four away points.

Currently occupying 10th place with the chance to re-enter the top eight should they prevail on Saturday, they will be eager to spoil the Soweto giants’ league homecoming by becoming only the second team to defeat them in their own backyard this season.

Team news

The visitors will be without assistant coach Lebohang Manyama, who will be missing from their dugout due to a red-card suspension.

They will also miss the services of former Bucs midfielder Fortune Makaringe as he nurses an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since October.

Orlando Pirates meanwhile have a midfield absentee of their own in the form of Kabelo Dlamini, who serves a one-match ban.

That department has however been bolstered by the return of Thalente Mbatha along with Goodman Mosele, both fit after spells on the sidelines.

Key players

Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The Bucs striker has had success against City in the past, and crosses paths with them again just a week after bagging his second hat-trick of the season. Mabasa’s anticipation and movement in and around the opposition box make him the perfect goal poacher while also threatening with his aerial prowess and the ability to strike from range.

Darwin Gonzalez (Cape Town City): With the uncanny ability to raise his game in big fixtures, Gonzalez was the difference in City’s last encounter with Pirates and will look to produce more of the same at Orlando Stadium. The 30-year-old is not only a factor with his creativity in open play, but also poses a significant threat come set-piece time.

Head-to-head

The two sides lock horns for the fourth time this season after contesting two legs of the MTN8 semi-finals early in the campaign, along with January’s Betway Premiership clash. The previous games have produced all three possible results, with Orlando Pirates finding success in the cup while City go into Saturday’s game looking to complete a league double.

The Citizen’s recent league win also means that things are even under the results column  in their rivalry with the Soweto giants, with victories sitting at five apiece while the other eight matches could not produce a winner. The Buccaneers still lead the goal stakes, having found the net 22 times while letting in 18 goals.

The hosts however remain unbeaten at Orlando Stadium with four wins and as many stalemates in the eight games played. They also have a comfortable lead in terms of goals, claiming a healthy share of 12 out of the 18 scored in Soweto.

TV coverage and ticket info

The match is set to kick off at 15:30, with live coverage available on SuperSport PSL.

Tickets are available for sale online on TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.

Prediction

Orlando Pirates 2-0 Cape Town City FC

How do YOU see Saturday’s clash ending?

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