Preview & prediction | Mamelodi Sundowns v Orlando Pirates, Nedbank Cup

The Nedbank Cup will feature a gargantuan quarter-final clash on Thursday, 15 April when Mamelodi Sundowns host Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld.

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Speaking to the media before the game, Masandawana co-coach Rhulani Mokwena, who is a former Orlando Pirates coach, said he sees the encounter as a final before the final.

“With due respect to all the remaining sides and the teams that participated in the competition‚ I think this is the final before the final. Two very good teams,” said Mokwena, as quoted by TimesLIVE.

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Mokwena continued: “We know more or less the Pirates line-up and fortunately we are also clued up on some of their schemes.

“From the point of view of the technical matchup‚ you know that there are some very good players and tactically the profile of the team is possession-orientated and transitional.

“It should be a good game on Thursday‚ it’s just a pity that a spectacle like that will not have fans in the stadium.”

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Aside from the recent 2-0 defeat at home to Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League group stage, Mamelodi Sundowns have been on a good run of form with two consecutive league wins over TTM and Chippa United.

The Chloorkop outfit are still top of the league table and eager to add more silverware to their ever-growing collection.

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Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates also have some momentum behind them after thrashing Al-Ahli 3-0 in their CAF Confederation Cup group stage clash on Sunday.

Coach Josef Zinnbauer is hoping to have a number of players back from injury ahead of the Mamelodi Sundowns tie, and he has reminded his squad how important the mental aspect of the game will be in a cup clash.

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“What’s important is that you get the results. Now we have to focus not on the league‚ but this tournament,” said Zinnbauer.

“And most of the time [in a cup tournament] you don’t need tactics as much‚ you need the power.

“You want to win the game‚ and if you have 11 players on that pitch who want to win, you can beat Sundowns.”

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In addition to Sundowns’ home-ground advantage, they may also have the mental edge due to the fact that they beat the Bucs 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld in their previous meeting in January.

Kick-off is at 18:00.

Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-2 Orlando Pirates

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