Betting Notebook: Midweek PSL games

The second half of the PSL season resumes this week, with a couple of games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The first game of the week is Sekhukhune United against the new log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns. Sekhukhune will be confident after taking points off another title challenger in Sundowns. Kaizer Chiefs then travel to Marumo Gallants on Wednesday, also knowing that a win could help them climb up the table to at least second (possibly first). While these are the only fixtures on show, the results could have major ramificatuins at the top of the table. Laduma Analytics brings you the statistical context for the midweek games.

A tight battle at the top

At the top of the log, the race is very tight. Orlando Pirates are level with Sundowns on 29 points, but the Brazilians top by virtue of superior goal difference. Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu are just two points back, and overall the gap between first and 8th is only six points. By the time the top two meet in middle February, they should have played the same number of games, and the picture could look altogether different. For the Buccaneers, they will be annoyed that they could not get the points their performance deserved against Sekhukhune.

Based on in-match simulations, Pirates win that game 78% of the time. The drawn result was only expected in 17% of simulations, but Sekhukhune held on even as Pirates ramped up the pressure late on. Pirates cannot afford more slip-ups, and they will be closely monitoring the midweek games, given they could find themselves third on the table by Thursday.

Tuesday: Sekhukhune (5th) v Sundowns (1st)

Sundowns  face a daunting trip to Polokwane to take on Sekhukhune United, who themselves will be looking for their first league win of 2026. Babina Noko have proven to be a challenging threat this season and they are looking to regain the fourth place they lost to AmaZulu over the weekend. Should results go their way, Sekhukhune could be third at the end of the week. For Sundowns, this is a ‘must-win’ to maintain pressure on Pirates before the conclusion of CAF Champions League group stage action in early February. Their away form has been sketchy, though, with a solitary away win across competitions since the end of August (P5 W1 D3 L1). However, they’ll draw inspiration from their history in this fixture.

10 – This will be the 10th meeting between the sides, and Sundowns have won eight of the previous nine.

You can bet on a Sundowns win or draw

You can bet on both teams to score

Wednesday: Marumo Gallants v Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs enter the late-January period with a sense of renewed optimism. After a difficult early spell, the Glamour Boys have clawed their way back into the title conversation. They currently sit in third place with 27 points, and have a solid defence to thank for that. The road ahead for Amakhosi takes them to the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium on Wednesday to face Marumo Gallants. Chiefs have conceded just once in five league games, and lead the clean sheet count in the division with 10. They have conceded over 1.5 goals in a game just once all campaign, and it’s hard to see how Marumo Gallants will breach them.

Yet, while Gallants have struggled for consistency and sit near the relegation zone, they have not been beaten in the league at home this season (2 wins, 4 draws). That said, Chiefs are given a 50% chance to take the points, with Gallants only 25% as implied by bookmakers. Chiefs aren’t the sharpest scprers in the league (they are the lowest scorers in the Top 7), but they should fancy at least one goal against a team approaching one year without a clean sheet.

21 – Marumo have not kept a clean sheet in the league since March last year, a run of 21 games in which they have conceded at least once.

You can bet on a Chiefs win or draw

You can bet on Chiefs getting Over 1.5 goals