Sundowns look to continue dominance over Chiefs

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to continue their dominance over Kaizer Chiefs when the teams meet in a key Betway Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on the afternoon of Saturday 1 March 2025.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT.

MATCH BACKGROUND

Sundowns claimed a 17th win from 19 league matches this season when they trumped Sekhukhune United 4-2 away from home on Wednesday evening, opening a 15-point lead at the top of the log over nearest chasers Orlando Pirates (albeit having played four more games).

The Brazilians will not only bring momentum into this clash, but also a sense of confidence that they very much have Chiefs’ number: ‘Downs have racked up four successive wins over the Soweto heavyweights, the most recent of which was a 4-0 destruction in the Carling Knockout back in November of last year.

Chiefs, meanwhile, are seeking redemption after suffering a heavy 1-4 defeat at the hands of SuperSport United in their last outing on February 18.

The Amakhosi have endured a frustrating season, especially on the league front, and the thought that a positive result in this match would actually help the title aspirations of arch Soweto rivals Pirates will not fill them with joy.

Yet avenging the above-mentioned cup defeat – as well as ending a winless drought against Sundowns which stretches back 11 matches across all competitions – is a must for coach Nasreddine Nabi and his team if they are to convince supporters that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

They will have to do so without the help of former Sundowns star Gaston Sirino, who was sent off in their loss to SuperSport.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso on his team’s busy schedule:

“I can only repeat it, it’s absolutely insane what’s happening to Sundowns. The schedule is insane, it’s not normal. It doesn’t respect the human being and I think it should be fought and well-considered because I don’t know how it’s possible.

“But we keep alive, we struggle and we continue pushing forward for sure.”

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi on how Mamelodi Sundowns have evolved since the arrival of his counterpart Miguel Cardoso:

“I do think they are now better than before, they have more balance, more efficient [going forward] and defensively [stronger]. It will be a tough game against maybe the best team in Africa – and we’re in the process of building a squad.

“But I love these big games, we want to prove ourselves, our players love measuring themselves against the best – we will always have a chance [to] win, like any team against any opponent in any other game.”

KEY PLAYERS

Mamelodi Sundowns: Lucas Ribeiro

The mercurial Brazilian notched up yet another goal on Wednesday night, scoring Mamelodi Sundowns’ third in their 4-2 win over Sekhukhune United. If Lucas Ribeiro can produce a performance similar to the brilliance he showed against Orlando Pirates a month ago, then a place as a ‘Downs legend is already reserved for him.

Kaizer Chiefs: Makabi Lilepo

The Congolese forward has added a new dimension to Chiefs’ attack, and he will be looking to underline his status with a big performance against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday afternoon. Lilepo has thus far scored against Stellenbosch FC and SuperSport United.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In head-to-head stats, Sundowns and Chiefs have met in 79 league matches dating back to 1985. Both the Brazilians and the Amakhosi have claimed 29 wins, with 21 games ending in draws.

Sundowns have beaten Chiefs twice already this season: 2-1 in a Premiership match in late September 2024 (in which the Tshwane side came from behind to triumph thanks to goals from Lucas Ribeiro and Iqraam Rayners), as well as 4-0 in a Carling Knockout match just over a month later (with strikes from Rayners [two], Peter Shaulile and Khuliso Mudau).

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Chiefs 0-1 Sundowns Sirino

2020/21 Chiefs 0-3 Sundowns Shalulile, Erasmus, Zwane (pen)

2020/21 Sundowns 1-2 Chiefs Sirino; Lebusa (og), Zuma

2021/22 Sundowns 2-0 Chiefs Kekana, Shalulile

2021/22 Chiefs 1-1 Sundowns Nange; Modiba

2022/23 Sundowns 4-0 Chiefs Sirino, Shalulile 2, Nasir

2022/23 Chiefs 0-1 Sundowns Maema

2023/24 Sundowns 2-1 Chiefs Ribeiro, Maema; Du Preez

2023/24 Chiefs 1-5 Sundowns Shabalala (pen); Matthews 2, Esquivel, Ribeiro, Lorch

2024/25 Chiefs 1-2 Sundowns Chivaviro; Ribeiro, Rayners

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 39 18 9 12 47 34

Chiefs 40 17 12 11 51 37

Away

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 40 11 12 17 37 51

Chiefs 39 12 9 18 34 47

Total

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 79 29 21 29 84 85

Chiefs 79 29 21 29 85 84