Following the resumption of the DStv Premiership, Mamelodi Sundowns will take a short break from domestic action, as they kickstart their CAF Champions League season.
Sundowns had a bye in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League and will enter the tournament in the second preliminary round over the weekend.
With the MTN8 semi-final second leg against Orlando Pirates scheduled to take place later in the month, Soccer Laduma compares the run of fixtures between the sides, ahead of the crucial decider.
Given the fixture congestion, Sundowns appear to have an easier run of games, as they only have one domestic game before facing Pirates in the second leg of the cup competition.
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The Brazilians will play back-to-back CAF Champions League matches against minnows La Passe of Seychelles over two legs.
The Tshwane giants have also been boosted by the fact that La Passe will play their home game in South Africa, interestingly at Loftus Versfeld Stadium as the away team on Sunday.
The Seychelles outfit requested to play their home leg in Tshwane after their home ground, Stade Linite, did not meet the CAF requirements.
Sundowns will then play the second leg at the same stadium the following Friday, after which they will host Marumo Gallants on 19 October, ahead of the MTN8 semi-final against the Soweto giants.
In comparison, the Buccaneers have a tougher run in, as they have to play three league fixtures against the KwaZulu-Natal teams in between. The Sea Robbers will play two home games against Richards Bay and AmaZulu and will then travel to Golden Arrows, before facing Sundowns on 22 October.
Pirates were seemingly already affected by their tough fixture pile up, as they lost 2-0 against Sekhukhune United on Tuesday, after getting only two days' rest following their goalless draw with Sundowns on Saturday.
It does not get any easier for the Buccaneers, even after their MTN8 semi-final second leg, as the side will face bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs a week later in the Soweto derby, to close off the first round of the season before the FIFA World Cup-enforced break.
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Pirates have already fallen off five points behind leaders Sundowns in the Premiership standings after the loss against Sekhukhune.
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