Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates: PSL live scores

In arguably the clash of the day Mamelodi Sundowns take on Orlando Pirates from 15:30 at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane.

Orlando Pirates arrive five points adrift of the log leaders but with a game in hand on the defending champions.

Sundowns meanwhile face an injury crisis as they seek to retain their unbeaten start to the DStv Premiership.

Themba Zwane is a doubtful starter with Sundowns creative force having been out for the second half of December with undisclosed health and injury issues. With seven goals this term Zwane is the Brazilians leading scorer ahead of Peter Shalulile.

Orlando Pirates have their own injury worries with Zakhele Lepasa in doubt due to the injury he picked up in the win over Chippa United.

Mamelodi Sundowns have failed to score in their last four outings against Orlando Pirates and haven’t beaten them in league competition since 2017.

Orlando Pirates need to address their issues in the final third if they are to come away with the three points. The Sea Robbers have scored nine goals in seven matches in the DStv Premiership.

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates: Follow live scores here

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Coach talk

Orlando Pirates’ German coach Josef Zinnbauer is relishing the opportunity to close the gap to the table-toppers.

“We know Sundowns possibly have some of the best players in their squad‚” said Zinnbauer.

“They have a big‚ big squad and we know it. And we also have a good squad and it’s a special game for us.

“Sundowns are on top and we are behind and‚ ja‚ we have a chance to come closer to Sundowns and come closer to the top of the table. This is important to us but we must have a good game first and a good performance.

“If we have a good performance we’ll have possibilities of winning the game.”

Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena revealed that they have scouted Orlando Pirates extensively and are prepared for the Buccaneers raid.

“Of course, they have been consistent with their line up apart of couple changes their game against Chippa United, the game against Cape Town City and the game against Bloemfontein Celtic of course maybe due to medical and injury concerns to some players. But generally, they have been consistent with the line-up,” Mokwena told KickOff.

“They got certain schemes that they also consistent with they got of course different methodology and profile of playing system to what has been in the past couple of years to something more transitional now. Of course, you have to maintain and understand and respect that because they have got speed on transition with key players to make important decisions in those sort of moments. They also have threat on set pieces and key players with qualitative superiority to make important actions during set pieces.

“But the dynamics of the team are characterised by qualities of individuals and of course the information we have on individuals comes in pretty handy.

“We have prepared. We know how they look to defend. We know how they look at times in particularly maybe different when Wayne Sandilands plays to when [Richard[ Ofori plays, the build-up is different even though they always consistently have the options of building up from the back with the new coach”.