Gary Lemke has a look ahead to the weekend’s action as Liverpool are on the cusp of the Premier League title, as Pirates and Sundowns face daunting away trips in the CAF Champions League.
ANFIELD CAN GET THE OFFICIAL PARTY STARTED
Liverpool will formally win the English Premier League if they get at least a point from their home match against Tottenham on Sunday after Arsenal blinked against Crystal Palace in midweek.
The title destiny has been known for a long time, but Anfield can celebrate officially, knowing that with four games remaining, the trophy is on its way back to Merseyside.
At the other end, Ipswich will officially join Southampton and Leicester in the Championship next season if they don’t beat Newcastle away, or if West Ham get at least a point at Brighton.
We’re no clearer knowing the identity of the five Champions League spots, with Man City, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa vying for three places.
JOSTLING FOR TOP EIGHT URC ORDER BEGINS
We’re three rounds away from the conclusion of the United Rugby Championship’s league programme, after which the top eight of 16 will square off in the quarter-finals.
Three of South Africa’s four franchises look like going through, with the Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks already all but assured their progress, while the Stormers have three more home games to confirm their spot.
The Cape side are now into the top eight and host fifth-placed Benetton, while the Bulls have a tough encounter in Glasgow. The Sharks are away to Ulster, while the Lions are home to Connacht. 14th versus 12th isn’t going to fill Ellis Park, though.
TOUGH TASKS AWAIT SAFFAS IN EGYPT
It’s the best of Egypt against the best of South Africa as the CAF Champions League semi-final second legs take place on Friday night. Both matches ended goalless last week, which means the odds are heavily stacked in favour of Al-Ahly (vs Sundowns) and Pyramids (vs Pirates) winning through to the final.
In fact, the odds of both Sundowns and Pirates winning their games is 22-1, while a home double win is 2-1. Having said that, a score draw would mean the visitors go through because of the away goal rule.
Home ground advantage is massive, and both Sundowns and Pirates will rue not putting their noses in front last week.
BINDER’S BIKE LACKING PACE TO BE A FORCE
Can you believe that Brad Binder is in his sixth season in MotoGP, and this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP will be the 97th ride of his career in the elite level of the two-wheelers.
He has two wins, in 2020 and 2021, and South Africans will be beginning to accept that 2025 won’t be his year. After four rounds, he is in 12th position on the standings, with Mark Marquez leading from Alex Marquez, but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Pedro Acosta is 11th.
Like its four-wheeled cousin, Formula One, the manufacturer holds such sway. Ducati-powered bikes have been in a different class, while KTM have slipped behind Honda and Aprilia as well in the Constructors’ standings and share fifth with Yamaha. That tells you everything about Binder’s chances this season.
MARKRAM ENJOYING GOOD IPL SEASON
Three more weeks of the Indian Premier League remain until we get to the playoffs. Batters continue to plunder the runs – averages sixes per game has dropped to a shade under 17 – with Aiden Markram sitting eighth on the list of leading run-getters going into Friday. Heinrich Klaasen is 11th.
There are still 29 games before the playoffs, but there’s a sliver of a gap emerging between the top six and the bottom four. Mumbai Indians are 5-2 favourites to lift the trophy, but in reality, probably any of them, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals and even Markram’s Lucknow Super Giants are still in the hunt.
