Sundowns v Inter Milan – race to be crowned champions

Mamelodi Sundowns and Inter Milan are runaway leaders of the DStv Premiership and Italian Serie A respectively, and the question is, who can claim their domestic title first?

Sundowns have an advantage in that only 30 games are played in the South African top flight compared to 38 in a Serie A season but Inter have been involved in 11 more league matches this campaign than the Brazilians.

Sundowns know that 66 points is the magic number for them to win the league, which is potentially seven games away, but that is only if Stellenbosch FC win all their remaining fixtures, which is highly unlikely.

A more realistic winning number will be 53-55 points as a maximum and, scarily for their opponents, Sundowns are potentially three games away from hitting that mark.

Their next three matches are against a trio of struggling clubs – home to Richards Bay, and away at Cape Town Spurs and Moroka Swallows. The fourth, by which time they could be crowned champions depending on other results, is home to Sekhukhune United on 27 April.

Or perhaps three days later when they travel to Kaizer Chiefs. To win it there would be both symbolic and hugely satisfying for Sundowns fans.

They were already crowned champions by 1 April last season, though of course, the format of the season was different and did not have a six-week break for the festive season and Africa Cup of Nations finals.

At that point, they were on 59 points and had seven matches still to play, but they could do it with similar numbers this time around.

INTER ON THE CUSP OF TITLE GLORY

Inter need to get to 89 points to be sure of the title as things stand, which is five games away, assuming they win four and either draw or win the other.

But they could do it a game quicker, by 22 April,