Sundowns, Pirates points comparison looks good for Bucs

It may not look like the case when you glance at the Betway Premiership standings, but for champions Mamelodi Sundowns, this campaign is their worst start to a new season in six years.

Sundowns top the table with 21 points from 10 matches, but not since the 2019-20 season have they amassed as few points as their current tally after one-third of the campaign completed.

In contrast, Orlando Pirates’ record is their second best over the previous seven seasons, despite the fact that they lost their opening two games of the league campaign in August to Marumo Gallants and Sekhukhune United.

Since then, they have won six on the trot, all without conceding, and sit on 18 points from eight matches, with two games in hand on Sundowns.

Pirates had 21 points from their first eight games last season in a better start than this year but then faded along the way and, in the end, finished runners-up to Sundowns by 12 points.

Pirates have ended second in their last three Premiership campaigns, and on each occasion, it has been a runaway triumph for the Brazilians.

But it could be a lot closer this season. Sundowns have not started this poorly since the Covid-ravaged 2019-20 season when they had 18 points after their opening 10 league matches but then came from behind to snatch the title from Kaizer Chiefs on a dramatic last day. Chiefs had a double-digit points lead before the outbreak of other Covid-19 epidemics.

Two seasons ago in the 2023-24 campaign, Sundowns won all of their opening 10 matches of the campaign and went on to win the title by a record 23-point margin from Pirates in second place.

Mamelodi Sundowns

After 10 Matches

Points

2019/20 18

2020/21 24

2021/22 26

2022/23 22

2023/24 30

2024/25 27

2025/26 21

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Orlando Pirates

After 8 Matches

Points

2019/20 9

2020/21 13

2021/22 11

2022/23 14

2023/24 9

2024/25 21

2025/26 18