In the context of the ongoing quest for league supremacy, it is undoubtedly the biggest clash thus far with its outcome holding the potential to determine the shape of the title race. It is a battle between the two teams occupying the highest spots in the standings, both approaching the halfway mark of their respective campaigns.

Form Guide

Pirates are the side heading into the clash with a bit of ground to make in the title race as they are placed right below their table-topping rivals. Six points separate the two sides with the Buccaneers going in with a game in hand, and the gap in points could be halved by the end of the weekend should things go in their favour in Tshwane.

They have worked up some winning momentum on their return to league football, overcoming rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a dramatic Soweto Derby on Saturday before triumphing over Sekhukhune United in tricky circumstances in Polokwane. This proved to be a welcome set of results for Jose Riveiro’s men who have now bagged 12 out of an available 15 points from their last five games.

In doing so, they remain among the top three teams in terms of the highest points tally away from home. Their four victories and one defeat on the road have earned them an impressive 12 points and place them just behind Sundowns and Stellenbosch when it comes to the league’s best travellers this season.

They however have the unenviable task of inflicting a first home defeat to a side yet to drop points in seven home league fixtures in their backyard. It’s a record that has been key to the hosts’ positioning in the log, with their only defeat throughout the season occurring on the road.

They approach the match against the Buccaneers on a roll, having won all of the nine matches played since they last failed to get over the line in the Premiership. While they have been dominant throughout, recent form will be sure to give them an extra boost in confidence following their commanding performances against Lamontville Golden Arrows and SuperSport United – against whom they netted a total of seven unanswered goals across their two outings over the past week.

Team News

Defender Thabiso Sesane is a worry for Pirates ahead of their trip across the Jukskei River. The 24-year-old only lasted 18 minutes in the victory over Babina Noko and could sit out the trip to Loftus.

The experienced Tapelo Xoki – brought on in his place in midweek – is among the likely options along with club captain Innocent Maela. Also waiting in the wings is Olisa Ndah who is making his way back to match-fitness, having resumed training.

For Sundowns, central midfielder Bathusi Aubaas adds to Miguel Cardoso’s options in the heart of the action. The 29-year-old has served a two-match suspension after he was given his marching orders during Sundowns’ 5-2 win against Sibanye in the Nedbank Cup. They will however be without veteran attacker Themba Zwane, who has been out of action since pulling up injured while on national duty in October.

Key Players

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): Ever present in the Bucs lineup is the Namibian stalwart, who displayed his class and versatility once again with an impactful display in midweek. The 34-year-old has mainly started in defence but slots in effortlessly on attack, and his goal and assist against Sekhukhune have propelled him to double figures in goal contributions this season.

Tashreeq Matthews (Mamelodi Sundowns): While it’s still early days in his Sundowns career, Matthews has not hesitated to show why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the country. He has made a number of impressive cameos throughout the season, and made a strong case for a second consecutive start in the league when he netted a brace in the Tshwane Derby, taking his league tally to four goals along as many assists in just eight appearances.

Head-to-Head

Pirates returned with a single point from their last league visit to Loftus, despite finishing the game a man short. Midfielder Miguel Timm was sent off early in the second half with the hosts capitalising on their numerical advantage through a goal from Marcelo Allende soon after, but a late Tapelo Xoki strike from the penalty spot ensured a share of the spoils. This meant that they avoided conceding the dreaded league double, having fallen short in the reverse fixture at Orlando Stadium.

While some recent success – which includes back-to-back cup finals – could give the Soweto Giants some confidence, it has been one-way traffic in favour of their Tshwane counterparts in the league. As a result, Pirates will be chasing their first league triumph in the fixture since January 2020.

In games played in the country’s capital, the Brazilians have enjoyed a slight edge in the past decade winning eight of the 20 fixtures while the Buccaneers boast six wins with the other six matches finishing level.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. Live updates will be provided across all Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the match are sold out.

It’s a relatively new rivalry in the top flight, which will be reignited following the visitors’ brief absence from the top flight. Three points will be top of the priority list for both sides with the Buccaneers on a mission to reclaim the top spot while the men from the Free State will be determined to claw their way out of the bottom half of the standings.

Previous meetings

All previous league fixtures between the two sides have occurred over a brief span starting at the beginning of the 2021/22 season and finishing halfway through the following campaign.The four league fixtures played so far have been dominated by Pirates, who went on a three-match winning streak prior to Gallants’ brief absence from the top flight.

Two of these three wins took place at Orlando Stadium, where the Buccaneers are yet to drop points against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa. They only failed to get over the line in the very first meeting, which ended in a goalless draw.

Goal Scorers

The fixture has so far produced a total of six goals. Unsurprisingly, these have been heavily slanted in favour of the Buccaneers who have netted five and only conceded once.

Gallants were however the first to find the net as they went ahead in the 12th minute through Siphelele Ntshangase in their second league encounter against Pirates, with the game played at Orlando Stadium a little over three years to the day. That particular clash went on to finish in a 2-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts as ex-Bucs striker Kwame Peprah struck twice in quick succession to complete the comeback with under 30 minutes played.

The Ghanaian attacker remains the leading goal-scorer, with Paseka Mako, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Monnapule Saleng each currently at a goal apiece. Mako’s goal stands out as the fastest scored in the fixture, with the left-back finding the net just three minutes into the game to secure Pirates a 1-0 victory at home.

Ndlondlo is meanwhile the only player to have struck in the second half, with his 68th minute penalty in the most recent clash between the two sides crucial in handing the Buccaneers their first away win against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa.

Control in the Middle

Key to Pirates’ dominance in the fixture has been their control in terms of ball possession. Across the four games, they have comfortably led in the ball possession stakes. In all but one of the four games played, the Buccaneers have enjoyed over 55% of the ball, maintaining attacking pressure and limiting Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s opportunities.

Composure Under Pressure

While the Premiership is physical in nature with fouls a regular feature of the game, fixtures between Pirates and Gallants have been played in a good spirit. Both teams have displayed good discipline throughout with only 13 yellow cards dished out. The Free State outfit slightly edges the Soweto Giants in that regard as they boast seven yellows. To date, no player has been cautioned more than once while a red card is yet to be shown.

Match Access Guide

Tuesday’s fixture kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Tickets for the game are still available for purchase online through TicketPro or at select outlets across the country.