Orlando Pirates vs St Eloi Lupopo: Preview, team news, lineup, time and where to watch

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Orlando Pirates vs St Eloi Lupopo: Preview, team news, lineup, time and where to watch

Orlando Pirates’ CAF Champions League fate hangs in the balance as they face Congolese side St Eloi Lupopo in their second preliminary round match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates were thrashed 3-0 in Lubumbashi last week and their failure to score at least one away goal leaves them clutching at the straws.

The Buccaneers have been in impressive form all season but met their waterloo in DR Congo when their opponents totally dominated and they just need to protect their huge lead to make their way into the Champions League group stages while dumping Pirates out.

Lupopo vs Orlando Pirates

That would be catastrophic for Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side who reached the semi-final last season and were hoping to go one better this term.

How do the two teams compare in form?

It was a surprising result in Lubumbashi for Pirates, who had won 10 straight games in all competitions before their outing in DR Congo, and stayed unbeaten in 11 matches before the defeat.

What is more, Ouaddou’s team had kept nine clean sheets over that period and therefore, conceding three in one match was not part of the script.

Evidence Makgopa Orlando Pirates
Image – Pirates

However, that is what happened but the Buccaneer’s resumed normal service in midweek when they beat Polokwane City 1-0 which gives them confidence of overturning the huge first leg deficit.

Meanwhile, Lupopo have just played three games this season and they are unbeaten, winning two and drawing the other, while keeping clean sheets in all of them.

Extending to last season, the Congolese side are yet to taste defeat since May, a run of 12 games that has yielded eight wins and four draws, and have not conceded in their last four, which makes Pirates’ task very difficult.

Nkosinathi Sibisi Orlando Pirates 1
Image – Lupopo

Head-to-head record

It was just the first meeting between Pirates and Lupopo and after the big defeat, the Soweto giants are itching to make it right on home soil.

Orlando Pirates team news

Pirates are likely to still miss winger Relebohile Mofokeng, who has been injured since early this month, while right-back Deano van Rooyen, midfielder Makhehleni Makhaula and centre-back Tapelo Xoki are long-term absentees.

Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis Orlando Pirates
Image – Pirates

What do Pirates to save their Champions League campaign?

Pirates must secure a 4-0 win to advance to the group stages otherwise they will be out while a 3-0 victory will take the game to extra-time and potentially, post-match penalties.

What has been said ahead of the game?

“It’s our job, and that of a football player, when you are playing for such a big club and playing every three days,” Ouaddou said. “You need to evaluate yourself — that’s what gives you the opportunity to improve.

Abdeslam Ouaddou Orlando Pirates 1
Image – Pirates

“Firstly, we give confidence to the guys that we still have the same qualities, and that’s what they showed. They knew it was a crucial game today as well. We wanted to climb to the top of the log.

“We need to keep going forward. We know that we have some games in hand, and sometimes it’s not easy to win them. We just have to keep going like that.”

Time and where to watch

The match will kick off at 15:00 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday October 25 and will be live on SABC Sport.

Pirates predicted lineup

Chaine; Sebelebele, Hotto, Sibisi, Mbokazi; Nduli, Mbule, Maswanganyi; Moremi, Appollis, Makgopa

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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