Cape Town City and Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed their starting line-ups for the DStv Premiership encounter at DHL Stadium this afternoon.
After Stellenbosch FC ended City’s six match winning streak two weeks ago, the Citizens are hoping to bounce back and deny Masandawana their 12th straight victory in the DStv Premiership.
The Cape Town based side is occupying fourth place and have a chance to go third should they win or hold Dows into a draw. It they are to cause any upset this afternoon they will have to do it without their talisman man Khanyisa Mayo who go suspended.
Meanwhile, Sundowns has been running riot domestically having 11 wins out of 11 matches and only conceded three times. The 2016 CAF Champions League narrowly won in Cairo, Egypt by 1-0 beating Pyramids FC to go top of CAFCL “Group A”.
While their record is equal, Sundowns have got the better of City as they are unbeaten in their last six PSL matches (W3 D3). Citizens are looking for their first league win in games between the two sides since August 2020. Overall since City’s inception in 2016, the two clubs have played each other 18 times, 14 of those fixtures being in the league.
It is a rivalry that has been very equal overall, with both teams having won five Premiership games, while there have been four draws. (Similarly, in those four cup duels, it is two victories each).
It is however the first time they’ve met this season, and they have only played once since Rulani Mokwena took over as sole head coach last year, with that game ended in a goalless draw in Tshwane.
It was also set to a battle between this season’s two top goal scorers – Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro and Khanyisa Mayo, but the City man is suspended after picking up a red card in their loss to Stellenbosch. Thabiso Kutumela, on loan from Sundowns at City, will also not be available, as per the loan agreement.
Here is how they line up:
Cape Town City XI: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Gordinho, Slatsha, Sifumba, Goedeman, Nodada, Rhodes, Paciencia, Gonzalez
subs: Mpandle, Ambina, Nyama, Fisher, April, Ramazani, Daniels, Mokhuoane
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Williams, Morena, Mashego, Kekana, De Reuck, Zungu, Mbule, Sirino, Mkhulise, Ribeiro, Shalulile
subs: Pieterse, Mvala, Muda, Allende, Maboe, Modiba, Zwane, Maseko, Nku
