kaizer chiefs and Sundowns meet in a potentially epic Betway Premiership clash on Saturday. Here’s all you need to know.
When last did Kaizer Chiefs beat the Brazilians?
You have to go back to April 2021 for Chiefs’ last win over the South African champions in any competition. Ironically, Uruguayan Gaston Sirino was a goal-scorer for Downs on that afternoon. How he’d love to get on the score sheet against his former employers this time. 33-year-old Sirino scooped 11 trophies with Sundowns in his years at the club.
Downs are unbeaten in each of the last eight H2Hs across all competitions.
The sides lock horns at FNB Stadium on Saturday 28 September with kickoff at 15:00.
Last five meetings between Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns
- Chiefs 1-5 Downs
- Downs 2-1 Chiefs
- Chiefs 1-1 Downs
- Downs 2-1 Chiefs
- Chiefs 0-1 Downs
Sirino is silky
Chiefs have struggled to field a regular and reliable playmaker in recent seasons. Yusuf Maart is more of a number eight and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo can’t stay fit for long enough to be a dependable option. 33-year-old Gaston Sirino, discarded by Sundowns and deemed surplus to requirements, has a new lease on life. He got an assist on the opening day and scored and assisted in the 3-1 win at AmaZulu from his left-sided attacking midfield role.
The season in a nutshell so far
Chiefs and Sundowns have 100% records after two rounds of league action so something has to give at FNB Stadium. Chiefs opened up their campaign with a 2-1 win over promoted Marumo Gallants; Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala got the goals. Then they were far too strong for AmaZulu, winning away 3-1 with goals from Ranga Chivaviro and new boys Gaston Sirino and Inacio Miguel. Sundowns got a routine 2-0 win over SuperSport courtesy of new boy Iqraam Rayners and Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro Costa. They then dispatched Gallants 4-1 with goals from Tashreeq Matthews, Rayners, Costa and Sphelele Mkhulise.
Likely starting XIs
Chiefs
Ntwari; Frosler, Miguel, Dortley, Cross; Blom, Zwane; Saile, Shabalala, Sirino; Chivaviro.
Williams; Kekana, Coetzee, Lebusa; Morena, Allende, Aubaas, Modiba; Matthews, Costa, Rayners.
Score prediction: Chiefs 1-1 Sundowns
Will Chiefs get a rare win over the all-conquering champions this weekend?
Kaizer Chiefs finished the 2023-2024 league campaign in tenth position, their worst placing in the history of the DStv Premiership. Their last league title came back in 2015, their most recent piece of major silverware.