Betting Guide: 2025 MTN8 QUARTER-FINALS

As the 30th PSL campaign kicks off, there are more questions than answers: whether new players will settle, how new coaches will perform, and if previous stars will continue to shine. Yet, the Top 8 is a rare tournament in world football, one that gives the better teams from last season a chance at silverware early on. This is a statistical preview of the quarter-finals.

Quarter-Final 1: Orlando Pirates v Polokwane City

Defending Top8 champions Orlando Pirates kick off the weekend’s action with a clash against Polokwane City. The Bucanneers have made winning this trophy a habit in the last few years (three Top8 titles in a row is PSL record), but there are key ingredients absent this time around. Firstly, coach Jose Riveiro has left the club, and so has a key player in this competition, Monnapule Saleng (on loan). He is the only player in Pirates’ PSL history to score in the Top 8 for three consecutive seasons, but it’s not as if he has not been replaced. The Bucs signed Polokwane’s best player in Oswin Appolis, and that is one of many reasons they are favourites here.

18 – Pirates are unbeaten in 18 games against Polokwane City in all competitions (W10 D8 since 2014.)

Team to progress: Orlando Pirates

Quarter-Final 2: Sekhukhune v TS Galaxy

Fourth vs fifth from last season clash in the evening game on Saturday night. While Sekhukhune are slight favourites, it’s worth noting that they have not beaten TS Galaxy in nearly four years. October 2021 was the last time they beat the Rockets, and the next eight meetings between the sides have produced five draws and three wins for the visitors. One important similarity, however, is that both teams have been busy in the transfer market, with Sekhukhune bringing in more players despite losing many as well. If anything, TS Galaxy’s troubles on the road may have more of a bearing.

1 – TS Galaxy have won just one away game this year (P8 W1 D4 L3)

Team to progress: Sekhukhune

Quarter-Final 3: Stellenbosch v AmaZulu

Last season’s losing finalists, Stellenbosch, lock horns with AmaZulu on Sunday afternoon. The Maroons will take their game to the DHL Stadium, but that should not cause too much fuss, as they have “rotated” their home base a few times last season, including home games in Pretoria, KZN and the Eastern Cape. One would imagine that it to affect their home form, but it has not. Only Kaizer Chiefs (twice) are the only away team (out of 13) to return home with a victory, having travelled to Stellies for a competitive game in 2025. One of those visitors was Amazulu, who fell 1-0 to Stellies in April. That win extended their winless run against Stellies to six games, with four defeats and two wins since 2023.

8 – Stellies have progressed one round further in each of their three Top8 participations – Quarterfinalists in 2022, Semi-finalists in 2023 and losing finalists in 2024.

Team to progress: Stellenbosch

Quarter-Final 4: Sundowns v Richards Bay

The last quarter-final sees Sundowns host Richards Bay at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening. The Brazilians have won eight consecutive league titles, but this is one trophy that has previously given them trouble. Two titles in the 21 participations represent a disappointing return for such a big team, and they will be keen to fix that early on. That said, Sundowns are heavy favourites – a 74% implied win probability based on the odds is the biggest between all four weekend fixtures.

100% – Sundowns have a 100% win record over Richards Bay, winning all eight matches played between the teams since 2022, by 17 goals to 2 with seven clean sheets.

Team to progress: Sundowns