Is Orlando Pirates’ PSL title charge over? Bucs left with mountain to climb in battle with Mamelodi Sundowns

So far, Pirates have managed to keep Sundowns close, ensuring Miguel Cardoso’s charges don’t get too far ahead in the race for the league crown.

However, it appears that small cracks are beginning to show in Bucs’ pursuit, making what was already a tough ask close to becoming mission impossible.

Pirates were always going to find it tough to compete with a team that had won the previous seven league titles on the spin, and now the pressure is beginning to tell.

The Soweto giants were going to require consistency to go toe-to-toe with the rampant Brazilians, however, it seems Bucs are not quite there yet.

Sure Sundowns know the core of their team, but what sets them apart is the fact that they can afford to tinker with it and still produce the required results.

The same, though, cannot be said for Pirates. They always seem to feel the effects of squad rotation, and their B team is not quite as strong as Sundowns’.

Both teams are involved in multiple competitions, and that means they have to rely on their squad depth if they are to remain competitive.

Pirates were not active in the recent transfer window, and that could prove costly as they might lack quality depth with games coming thick and at the business end of the season.

Downs, on the other hand, were able to bring in players who improved their team, with the likes of Lucas Suarez and Jayden Adams slotting right into the starting team.

There’s little doubt that if Sundowns were not the dominant force that they have been over the past seasons, Pirates would have a couple of league titles in the bag already.

But, the reality is that the Brazilians are just too good for the rest of the PSL and it will take an almighty effort from Pirates, or any other team, to stop them.

Sundowns have won the last six league titles in a row, and that alone tells the story of how far ahead the Tshwane giants are of their competitors.

The last time they were really made to sweat for the title was way back in the 2019-20 season when Chiefs ran them close, falling just two points short in the first end.

Since then, the Brazilians have eased across the line with little trouble from other teams, breaking multiple records en route to the title.

Pirates are most definitely a quality team and can hold their own against any team on the continent on their day; however, to win the league, they need to perform at the highest level in every single match.

So far, this has proven to be difficult for Riveiro’s men to achieve as they seem to have the odd ‘off day’ where they struggle to live up to expectations, especially in the league.

Sundowns, on the other hand, rarely have those days, and they just about always find a way to get over the line, something that sets them apart from their competitors.

Last season, Sundowns only lost one match - against Cape Town City - coming close to going invincible the entire campaign, which would have been unheard of in the PSL.

This is what Pirates have to compete with, and it is no easy feat, requiring the Soweto giants to operate at a level no other PSL team has managed to in the last decade or so.

Although it would be a near-impossible task, Pirates are still in with a chance of toppling Downs and they will give their all until the final day.

Pirates still have four games in hand over Sundowns, and the 18-point difference would not look so daunting if Bucs were to win all those matches. 

However, matches in hand are not points in the bag, and that’s what gives Sundowns such a massive advantage in the league title race.

Nevertheless, Riveiro’s charges look determined to push Sundowns until the end of this season with the hopes that they will stumble along the way.

PSL

Orlando Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns

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