Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane Prediction: Sundowns will dispatch their opponent without stress

Mamelodi Sundowns will be at home to Polokwane at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in this quarter-final round of the MTN 8 Cup. Sundowns are overwhelming favorites, while Polokwane are underdogs. With their last meeting ending goalless, which team will change the narrative in this crucial game?

Mamelodi Sundowns' last match was in a friendly game with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, and this team secured a 1-2 win. In that game, Mamelodi Sundowns scored first from Lucas Costa's strike in the 50th minute. However, while Aleksandar Mitrovic leveled the scores from the spot for Al Hilal, a 64th-minute strike by Aubrey Modiba was good enough to see this team secure a win in that game. In the meantime, Mamelodi Sundowns have secured consecutive victories and remain unbeaten in three successive matches. In those matches, this team scored six goals and conceded twice.

Polokwane secured a win over TS Galaxy in their last encounter, a game that ended 1-0 on the final day of the previous season. In that game, Oswin Appollis' lone strike in the 25th minute was the difference, with that win extending Polokwane's run of unbeaten to five. However, previous encounters to that win saw Polokwane played to goalless draws with Richards Bay, Sekhukhune, and Kaizer Chiefs. In the meantime, their league game against Cape Town Spurs ended in a 0-1 win, with Rushwin Dortley's own goal being the difference. 

On their best days, Mamelodi Sundowns are miles ahead of Polokwane, and I do not see the road team proving a point here. While the two teams are on an unbeaten run of games, they will surely have high hopes. Yet, Mamelodi Sundowns are favorites, and while I do not expect the 2021 South Africa Supersport League winners to have any of their best players on the bench, a win for them in each half in a game that might not end more than three goals is a good option to explore.