Orlando Pirates return to action this week with another crucial Betway Premiership fixture as they host Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
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It’s a welcome return to league action for the Buccaneers following a lengthy pause brought on by the international break.
They are back playing in front of their home crowd, having navigated back-to-back league fixtures on the road prior to the recent hiatus.
A potential banana peel stands between them and another three points in midweek as they host a Chippa outfit determined to cause an upset after finding themselves in unwanted territory early on in the season.
Come under threat
A permanent fixture in top flight football for over a decade, Chippa’s standing on the elite level of South African football has come under threat during the initial part of the current season.
A tough start to the campaign has seen them drop to the bottom of the standings as the season approaches its halfway mark.
The Chilli Boys’ 2-1 win over newcomers Orbit College remains their only win in 12 attempts, and accounts for nearly half of their seven points.
They have gone on to lose three times and play as many stalemates since getting off the mark and have collected only a single point on the road having travelled five times in the league this season while netting only three goals with six conceded.
A three-week breather from competitive action will have been a welcome break for the men from the Eastern Cape, who are desperate to turn their fortunes around.
They face the unenviable task of trying to upset the Buccaneers, who have been a difficult hurdle to overcome on home turf.
Bucs Team News
Stationed near the summit heading into Tuesday’s clash, Orlando Pirates are chasing a crucial win that could place them level on points with the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.
They have collected points in each of their last eight league fixtures, overcoming a difficult start to take up second place in the standings.
Their recent travels have added another four points to their tally, courtesy of a stalemate against Mamelodi Sundowns and a convincing victory against Golden Arrows.
It’s at home where Abdeslam Ouaddou’s troops have enjoyed a longer winning run, claiming maximum points in each of their last four games without conceding while finding the net five times.
The only blemish to their record in Soweto is their defeat to Sekhukhune United in their season opener, which remains the only instance where their passionate home support witnessed a goal netted against them.
With a proud record to uphold, Orlando Pirates now have a struggling Chippa in their sights as they look to initiate a strong finish to the year.
They could soon be boosted by the return of midfielder Sihle Nduli, who missed the Carling Knockout clash against Richards Bay, while Olisa Ndah and Makhehleni Makhaula both inch closer to featuring for the first time this season.
Betway Premiership log ahead of kick-off
Head-to-Head
Orlando Pirates have an opportunity to clinch a league double against Chippa, having beaten them 3-0 on their visit to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium earlier in the season.
They could extend their winning streak in the fixture to five games with victory on Tuesday.
Defeats against the Chilli Boys have been a rare occurrence for the Buccaneers in the 13 years since the two sides first crossed paths.
They have emerged on the winning side in 18 of their 25 league encounters, losing just four times while three games failed to produce a winner.
The last of Chippa’s victories occurred during the early part of the 2022/23 season when they netted late at Orlando Stadium to claim a 1-0 win.
The Soweto giants have since swung momentum back in their favour, winning five of the next six games and only dropping points once during this period.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 19:30 with the game set to be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL.
Tickets are available for purchase online on OpenTickets and selected outlets nationwide.
Prediction
Orlando Pirates 2-0 Chippa United
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