Cardoso On Title Race And Player Recovery
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso expects another intense encounter when his side hosts Polokwane City at Loftus Stadium on Sunday, just four days after their previous meeting.
Sundowns’ title credentials were tested by Rise and Shine at Seshego Stadium on Wednesday, but they came through with a strong performance.
Marcelo Allende’s low, driven strike from the edge of the box broke down a stubborn Polokwane City defence, lifting Sundowns to the top of the table with 61 points from 26 matches—one point ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates.
Allende’s goal was his fifth of the season from outside the box, cementing his reputation as the league’s most dangerous long-range threat in 2026.
The Brazilians went into that match after back-to-back draws against Stellenbosch and Richards Bay, making the victory even more significant.
Facing the same opponent within a few days can be challenging for both teams, but Cardoso insists his side must rise to the occasion as they chase a ninth consecutive league title.
“I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not, because we have to play every opponent home and away,” said Cardoso.
“The only advantage for other teams at this stage is that they don’t play during the week. Polokwane City played just a few days ago, as we did, and we understand the physical impact that brings.
“That is the only thing we might benefit from. But both teams will have another match within seven days, which is obviously very demanding.
“We still expect a high level of intensity, and we need to push ourselves to the limit. We also have to recover the players as best as possible.”
Sundowns have a 100% win rate at Loftus Stadium this season, which provides why they are heavy favorites despite the aggression of the schedule, sending an ominous threat to Polokwane in the hope of getting something.
A win in Pretoria would see Sundowns move four points clear of Pirates, although the Soweto giants would still have a game in hand.
Pirates return to action on Tuesday with an away match against Stellenbosch at Athlone Stadium, while Sundowns will face Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Stadium the following day.
The closely contested title race between Sundowns and Pirates continues.
