History is not on Orlando Pirates' side as they look to bring an end to Mamelodi Sundowns' unbeaten start to the DStv Premiership season at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, February 17.
Kick-off is at 8pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
The Buccaneers have lost their last seven match-ups with the Brazilians in the league and you'd have to go back four years to find their last win (1-0) which came on 15 January 2020.
Jose Riveiro's side concluded 2023 on a disappointing note after suffering back-to-back defeats against SuperSport United (3-1) and Stellenbosch (3-2), having won their previous three matches.
Pirates went into the Africa Cup of Nations break sitting fifth in the standings on 25 points, 13 adrift of league leaders Masandawana, who have played two games less.
The defending champions endured a gruelling December which saw them play eight times in the space of 28 days both domestically and on the continent as their perfect league record was finally dashed following a 0-0 draw with Cape Town City.
Rulani Mokwena's side dropped points again six days later when they played out to another goalless draw with Polokwane City on December 30, allowing the Citizens to cut the gap down to nine points in second place.
What was said:
Sundowns recently bolstered their squad with the signings of Matias Esquivel, Tashreeq Matthews and Zuko Mdunyelwa, with Mokwena explaining the strategy behind the acquisitions.
"We've been very clear with regards to what the club is trying to do, in dropping the average age of the squad and of course when you look at this thing from a long-term perspective, we want to be able to have a team that can compete," Mokwena said.
"And not only compete in the immediate but sustain the ability to perform and win
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