Defending PSL Champions Bidvest Wits will look to upset the odds when they face Mamelodi Sundowns at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Bidvest Wits vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Tuesday, November 21st
Bidvest Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off at 19:45 (7:45pm) SA time
Gavin Hunt’s chargers are fresh off the back of a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout this past weekend as they prepare to welcome Downs to the same venue in ABSA Premiership action just three days later. Pitso Mosimane’s men have been licking their wounds since they the exited the CAF Champions League in the quarter-finals at the hands of WAS Casablanca in September. Back-to-back league defeats in October at home to Kaizer Chiefs and Amazulu respectively were sandwiched in between much needed wins over Platinum Stars and most recently Orlando Pirates before the international break which brought an end to a miserable month which also saw Downs exit the Telkom Knockout at the first hurdle.
Bidvest Wits recent results: (all competitions)
18/11/2017 – Wits 1-0 Chiefs (TKO)
04/11/2017 – Wits 1-0 Baroka (TKO)
01/11/2017 – Wits 0-2 Chippa (PSL)
28/10/2017 – Wits 4-2 Free State Stars (TKO)
22/10/2017 – Baroka 0-1 Wits (PSL)
01/10/2017 – Celtic 1-0 Wits (PSL)
Mamelodi Sundowns recent results: (all competitions)
01/11/2017 – Pirates 1-3 Sundowns (PSL)
29/10/2017 – Chippa 1-0 Sundowns (TKO)
21/10/2017 – Sundowns 1-2 Amazulu (PSL)
17/10/2017 – Sundowns 1-2 Chiefs (PSL)
01/10/2017 – Platinum Stars 0-1 Sundowns (PSL)
The Clever Boys, for all their exploits in the cup competitions, are still a far cry from the team that swept aside the rest of the ABSA Premiership last season. They are languishing in the basement of the table and find themselves in a lowly 15th place – a relegation play-off spot, with just two wins from their opening nine league games. Platinum Stars are the only side below them bringing up the rear with one win from their first ten. The Students will be hoping that Egyptian summer signing Amr Gamal can kick-on and score some goals that his dazzling displays most definitely deserve. He currently has two league goals to his name while last season’s top scorer Gabadinho Mhango is yet to find the back of the net in the PSL. The Brazilians still have some ground to make up in the ABSA Premiership. Currently sitting in eighth place and five points off the surprise early leaders Baroka, Masandawana still have three games in hand over most of the teams above them in the top half of the table and could find themselves as high as second if they are to pick up all three points against last season’s champions on Tuesday, and results around the country go in their favour. Key to their sides chances are the midfield duo of Hlompo Kekana (3 goals) and Percy Tau (2 goals) who will be eager to impress upon their return from international duty which saw Bafana Bafana fail to qualify for Russia 2018. Bidvest Wits won the corresponding fixture last season, 1-0 in May. Ben Motshwari’s solitary goal gave the hosts victory on their way to stealing a march on the title over their rivals. They also previously knocked Downs out of the MTN8 at the same venue when Daine Klate scored twice in a 3-0 win back in October 2016. The Bidvest Stadium has proven to be something of a fortress for the home side in recent years and a rather unhappy hunting ground for Pitso Mosimane’s men. Wits have won four of their last five home games against Sundowns in all competitions including that MTN8 victory last season despite failing to pick up a single win on the road against their more fancied opposition.
Bidvest Wits vs Mamelodi Sundowns Last Eight Meetings: (all competitions)
01/05/2017 – Wits 1-0 Sundowns
25/02/2017 – Sundowns 2-0 Wits
01/10/2016 – Wits 3-0 Sundowns (MTN8)
11/05/2016 – Wits 0-1 Sundowns
22/08/2015 – Sundowns 4-2 Wits
03/03/2015 – Wits 1-0 Sundowns
18/10/2014 – Sundowns 0-0 Wits
01/03/2014 – Wits 3-1 Sundowns