PSL Betting Guide: Final Weekend

There is still some outstanding business to be sorted in the final 90 minutes of Absa Premiership action. There is the small matter of deciding a champion on the agenda, and there are CAF, Top 8 and top-flight statuses also up for grabs. Plus Golden Boots and Golden Gloves. As usual, we dug through the numbers to bring you all the stats you need ahead of the final gameweek.

AmaZulu v Highlands Park

Usuthu (13th) are safe from automatic relegation, but could still be dragged into the playoffs if they fail to win and other results go against them. Lehlohonolo Majoro has contributed to four goals in the last four games (2G 2A). On the other hand, Highlands Park’s Top8 place is at risk from two other teams (Stellenbosch and Celtic), so you can expect them to go all out for the win. An attacking approach could also help Peter Shalulile in the hunt for the Golden Boot.

2 – Of the 9 matches that Highlands Park have lost this season, only two of them have come against teams currently outside the Top 4 (Stellenbosch and Celtic).

Sundowns v Leopards

Sundowns are the league’s top scorers in the bio-bubble and we expect them to go with all guns blazing at some point during this game, if they are to make up the 3 goal deficit on Chiefs. Their attack, which was back to its sharpest on Wednesday night, may prove too much for troubled Leopards, currently one point away from the playoff places. Leopards have been one of the best teams since the restart, their 1.8 points per game only bettered by Supersport & Cape Town City.

0 – Leopards are one of only two sides that have failed to win a league game this season against any of the teams currently in the Top 4 positions, drawing two and losing the other five games.

100% – Pitso Mosimane has overseen 5 wins in 5 league games against Black Leopards, his best 100% record against a single club as Sundowns coach.

Baroka v Kaizer Chiefs

The good news for Chiefs is that they are just one game away from winning their first league title in five years. The bad news is that they are also one game away from being dethroned at the top of the table for the first time since 24 September 2019. They have conceded the most goals in the bio-bubble, as many as bottom of the table Polokwane City (9). Compared to Sundowns, Amakhosi have the trickier encounter on D-Day.

Since Baroka were promoted in 2016, the seven games between them have produced just 7 goals apiece, and their last two encounters have been decided by the solitary goal. After a good start, they managed to just get over the line against nine men on Wednesday. Baroka, with 10 men, lost 4-1 to Supersport during the week, but may prove a stern test for Middendorp’s team.

1 – Under Ernst Middendorp, Chiefs have scored just one goal against Baroka (Played 2), their lowest total against any current top-flight opponent.

Orlando Pirates v Stellenbosch

The Buccaneers will be buoyed by a 1-0 win over Wits during the week, as they look to snatch 3rd place away from Supersport. Their opponents have a Top 8 spot in mind, and are also after a 10th win of the season, which would make them only the fifth newly promoted side to reach 10 wins in the first top-flight campaign. They have already beaten Pirates once this season and could complete a league double over them with a win on Saturday afternoon.

1.80 – Stellenbosch have won 1.8 points per game since the restart, only Cape Town City and Supersport (2.0 ppg) have a better record.

Celtic v Maritzburg

Celtic are unbeaten in the bio-bubble,while Maritzburg are yet to win a game. Although Celtic are unbeaten, they have still only won just once (v Chiefs), coupled with five draws, and no side has drawn more games in the restart. The corresponding fixture between these sides also ended 2-2.

12 – Celtic and Maritzburg have each drawn 12 games in the league throughout the season, more than all the other sides.

Wits v Polokwane

This match has “It will end in tears” written all over it. We’re calling this The Farewell Match, as both sides could be saying some sort of Goodbye. To avoid automatic relegation, City have to win here, hope Baroka lose, and also see an 8-goal swing go in their favor. It will certainly be Goodbye to Wits, who reached an agreement for the sale of their franchise to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) in July this year. Ending the 99-year journey with a victory is made more likely given that they face the lowest team in the division.

50% – Gavin Hunt needs a win in the last Wits game to end hisWits career with an exact 50% win rate in the league. He currently has 104 wins in 209 games.

Chippa v Golden Arrows

Can Golden Arrows end the season with a win? Since coming to Gauteng for the league restart, Abafana bes’thende are yet to win a game. They have not even managed to score a goal from open play, only scoring one penalty and one direct free-kick. They are now winless in eight league games, their longest such run under Steve Komphela, and their longest winless run since the 2017/18 season (11 games). They face a Chippa side that is still not safe from the chop.

1 – Since Steve Komphela joined the club in December 2018, Golden Arrows have beaten just one team (Baroka) in games that were not played in KZN (D10 L8).

Cape Town City v Supersport

Cape Town City v Supersport is another game with a lot at stake. The Citizens are currently 7th on the table, but may be overtaken into the Top 8 if they lose here and other teams below them win. Supersport are in pole position for a CAF place, but failure to win here could see that also snatched from their hands. Supersport reaching the 50-point mark for the first time since 2011/12 could be a vindication for the trust they have placed in Kaitano Tembo, but he faces the one side whose code he has yet to crack.

0 – Under Kaitano Tembo, Supersport have never beaten Cape Town City, losing 3 and drawing 3 in all competitions. They have also failed to score in five of the six matches against The Citizens.