Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs may be primed to take advantage of a somewhat beleaguered Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend. The two teams will meet at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, with many expecting a routine victory for the log-leading Brazilians.
Given the teams’ current standings in domestic football and their recent head-to-head battles, it is not far-fetched to expect Sundowns to roll over Amakhosi in the same way they did their rivals Orlando Pirates in recent weeks. Sundowns have won nine of their last 11 games against Amakhosi, drawing the other two.
The visitors have not beaten Sundowns in four years, with their last victory coming during lockdown when a Mosa Lebusa own goal and a Dumisani Zuma strike secured the win for Chiefs. Masandawana recently broke their own record by reaching the halfway stage of the season with 42 points from 15 games, the highest points tally at this stage in the Premier Soccer League era.
They currently sit at the top of the Betway Premiership with a 12-point lead over Pirates, having played 18 games in the 2024/25 season. At the other end of the spectrum is a seventh-placed Chiefs side, recently thumped in their own backyard by SuperSport United last week.
@KaizerChiefs Port St John's was Gold and Black 💛✌️ pic.twitter.com/nyisv2JABD
With Chiefs' technical team desperately searching for possible weaknesses in the defending champions' camp, one area to exploit might be Sundowns' congested fixture list.
The Chloorkop-based outfit’s participation in the league, CAF Champions League, and Nedbank Cup has forced coach Miguel Cardoso to manage his squad carefully. Sundowns have played seven games in the last 21 days, averaging a game every three days — an intense schedule that demands strategic squad management.
Before facing Chiefs, Sundowns will also play Marumo Gallants on Wednesday, leaving them with just two days to recover and prepare for Chiefs’ visit.
On the other hand, Chiefs' head coach Nasreddine Nabi will have had 13 full days to reassess his strategies. Given Chiefs’ high-energy playing style, freshness could play a key role in this encounter.
Much has been made of Sundowns’ squad depth and quality, but a strong finish to the season requires cohesion. We’ve seen Sundowns attempt to rotate their squad, only to suffer surprise defeats to the likes of Polokwane City and, more recently, TS Galaxy—something Chiefs might seek to capitalize on.
As kick-off approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a heavyweight clash—a battle not just for points but for pride.
Will Kaizer Chiefs harness their freshness to turn the tide in their favor, or will Mamelodi Sundowns fight through fatigue to maintain their grip on the league?
Only time will tell.