DStv Premiership Betting Guide: Mid-Week Action

There is a full round of DSTV Premiership action during the week, with matches shared across Tuesday (3) and Wednesday (5). The league table is now taking shape, and Sundowns’ form already looks ominous early on, while the usual suspects chase. We’ve chosen three matches to focus on with some stats that will give historical and present context. Enjoy.

Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns

Sundowns traveling to Orlando Stadium is the biggest game of the season so far. Pirates are seen by many as the nearest challengers to the title, given how they beat Sundowns in the MTN8 last season, and how impressively they finished 2022/23. A win here would breathe some life not just into the title race, but the PSL in general, which has seen Sundowns scoop six consecutive league titles, most of them at a canter. It’s also a big game because Sundowns will be looking to become only the second team in PSL history to win each of their first seven league games of the season (also 2014 Kaizer Chiefs, who won 8). They will also be looking to equal the PSL top-flight record for longest unbeaten run, a 31-game streak by Kaizer Chiefs in 2005.

Downs have enjoyed the upper hand in recent years, winning six in a row in the league by an aggregate score of 13-1. The hosts will be looking back at that Cup performance from a year ago for the template on how to win this one. The bookies may be thinking of that in the pricing, and perhaps the fact that Pirates need the result more. The teams even for the win at 2.6/1 for both to get all the points. That’s the closest you’ll get to expectations that a team beats Sundowns.

1 – Pirates have lost just one of the 10 home league games they’ve played in 2023 (W7 D2 L1), although that defeat came to Sundowns.

SuperSport v Kaizer Chiefs

On a rare occasion, theTop4 ever-present sides clash on the same day, but the SuperSport-Chiefs clash probably has more backstories. Gavin Hunt’s short stint at Chiefs still lingers in the minds of many, and he’ll be keen to get all the points if only to get one back over his former side. Yet, one wonders how they will bounce back following their horror result against Arrows. Chiefs may have one eye on their Sundowns clash this weekend, but can not afford to drop points either – following the drab 0-0 over the weekend that saw them drop to 10 points off the top. Historically, Matsatsantsa enjoys this fixture, beating Chiefs more than any other side in PSL history (21 times in the league). Recently, none of the teams dominated, with 4 wins to 3 in favor of the hosts, plus three 1-1 draws. SuperSport are given a 53% chance of victory, with Chiefs 23%, while a draw will triple your money.

1 – Between them, Chiefs & SuperSport have scored just one goal before half-time this season.

TS Galaxy v Cape Town City

City have lost five in a row in all competitions, and look unrecognizable from the side that picked up 22 points between mid-February and the end of last season (only Pirates had more, 23). A combination of toothlessness in front of goal (they blanked in three of those games) and late heartbreak (they lost to 90+ minute goals when they scored) has proved to be devastating for them. But this is one fixture Eric Tinkler has mastered over the years, unbeaten in four meetings against Ramovic (W3 D1). TS Galaxy haven’t covered themselves in glory either since beating Chiefs, losing to Royal AM and AmaZulu after. However, they have won three in a row at home since May, as many home wins as they managed in the preceding 8 months (W3 D6 L5 at home between August and April).

0 – TS Galaxy are one of two teams yet to concede a home goal this season (also Chiefs).