Mamelodi Sundowns aim to up the title race momentum against Premiership strugglers

Mamelodi Sundowns will have little time to revel in their hard-fought victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League semi-finals over the weekend.

They will turn their attention to the domestic scene as they gear up for two clashes in the Betway Premiership this week. The champions are eager to maintain their momentum in a league where every point counts.

The South African champions will face Richards Bay at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday. Sundowns enter the match with an impressive nine-point lead over rivals Orlando Pirates, who are hot on their heels with two games in hand.

This position, while advantageous, does not afford coach Miguel Cardoso and his players the luxury of complacency. As the league nears its conclusion, with just eight games remaining in the season, every point becomes crucial in the quest for their eighth consecutive Premiership title.

Sundowns will hope to translate their continental championship prowess into a solid performance at home, hunting for three crucial points against Richards Bay.

The fatigue factor cannot be dismissed, as Sundowns navigate the demanding stretch of a season, They have made significant strides in the league and also in the knockout competitions.

Having reached the final of the Carling Knockout and the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup, the physical toll on the players is palpable. Their resilience will be tested as they seek to maintain momentum and fend off any slip-ups in the home stretch.

Richards Bay are in a perilous position near the bottom of the standings, fighting to stave off participation in the relegation-promotion play-offs. Desperate for points, they come into this fixture determined to snag a result that could prove pivotal in their survival fight.

After the match against Richards Bay, Sundowns will embark on a second crucial outing this weekend, travelling to face struggling Cape Town City. The outcome of both matches could play a defining role in the trajectory of the Premiership title race.

Meanwhile, the dates for the highly anticipated 2024/25 CAF Champions League final against Pyramids have been confirmed. The first leg will be held in South Africa on May 24. After that, Sundowns head to Cairo for the decisive second leg on June 1.

This upcoming final presents an opportunity for Sundowns to further cement their legacy in African football and bag a second Champions League star.