PSL Weekend Double and Value Bets by OptaJabu

It might be the Soweto Derby this weekend but there is so much more crucial action in the DSTV Premiership than just that match. All three clubs that are top of the table are in action with second and third facing each other. Supersport United host Swallows FC in a race to see who can close the gap on leaders Sundowns. Masandawana face a struggling Chippa on Sunday.

OptaJabu combs through the numbers and we come up with the best bets for your multis and bet slips as well as providing value bets.

15:30 – Supersport United v Swallows FC

The surprise team of the season, Swallows FC will be high in confidence after grabbing a point away at the defending champions Sundowns during the week. Both teams remain unbeaten. This is the first season in PSL history where more than one team has remained unbeaten in their 13 opening games (previous best was 11 games, Chiefs and Pirates in 2005/06).

However, their opponents, Supersport, are having an equally impressive season. Only once before have Supersport won more points at this stage of a PSL season than the 27 they have won in the opening 13 games of this campaign (28 in 2011/12). Kaitano Tembo and his men have been helped by their formidable home record – no team has won more points at home this season (joint-top with Sundowns on 15). Not only that, Kaitano Tembo’s men are a team of record breakers, beyond just Bradley Grobler.

Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza have led the line for Supersport all season, scoring 17 goals between them so far, as many as the entire Swallows team has managed. However, Swallows FC defence has been good. Sundowns are the only side that has conceded less than Swallows this season, but the cracks have started to appear in the last few games.

The 0-0 draw against Sundowns recently was the first game involving Supersport to end with less than 0.5 goals since November 2019. It was also the only time this year that Supersport kept a clean sheet at home. With another form striker Gamildien in town, Swallows will be optimistic to find the net here. Gamildien was disappointing in the last game, as Swallows had just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. He’ll be hoping to return to scoring ways, and add to his tally.

Match Facts

1 – Swallows FC have kept one clean sheet in their last six league games, having kept five clean sheets in the opening seven games of the season.

9 – Gamildien has scored nine league goals this season – only Bradley Grobler (12) has more.

12 – Supersport are unbeaten at home in 12 league matches (W8 D4 since January 2020), a new club record for longest unbeaten home run in the league.

20 – Swallows FC have not lost any of their last 20 games (W12 D8) in the top-two divisions, since March last year.

Best Bet: BTTS at 1.95

Value Bet: Draw at 3.45

17:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns v Chippa United

Chippa United will visit the league leaders on Sunday afternoon looking to continue their three game unbeaten run. Due to fixture changes, the Chilli Boys are on a countrywide tour, and will be playing successive away games at least until the end of January. They beat Leopards 3-0 in the last game, but they have not won successive away games since December 2019. Their record against Sundowns does not make for good reading.

Chippa‘s win over Leopards meant that Chippa had won a league game by a 3+ goal margin for only the 2nd time in the last three seasons. They have scored 3+ goals in two matches in the same season for the first time since 2017/18, suggesting a sharpness in front of goal.

That said, this is one part of the road trip they would probably dread. Sundowns away is one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar for any team. For the men from the Eastern Cape, it has been a bit of a nightmare.

Match Facts

0 – Chippa have not won a league game against Sundowns since they were promoted in 2012, drawing six and losing eight of the 14 matches between the sides. It’s the longest that any PSL team has played Sundowns without managing to beat them at least once.

1 – This was the first time in their history that Chippa led a league match by a 2+ goal margin at half-time away from home.

6 – Chippa have failed to score in six of the seven matches played away to Sundowns, the highest number of times they have failed to score away at any PSL opponent.

Best Bet: Sundowns to win at 1.46

Value Bet: Sundowns (-1) handicap

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