Orlando Pirates claimed a hat-trick of MTN8 titles between 2022 and 2024, and are seeking to become the first club ever to win the competition four years in a row.

These two sides have met 114 times before since the start of the National Soccer League in 1985, with Sundowns leading the head-to-head 47-34. There have also been 33 draws. Sundowns have outscored their opponents 150-109, with Khuliso Mudau netting their 150th goal against The Buccaneers in a defeat in a league clash last season.

The teams have met in 14 matches in the competition overall, 10 at the semifinal stage to go with two quarterfinals and two finals. Their first was, for a time, Sundowns’ record win against Pirates as they romped to a 6-1 success in 1990. That was eclipsed by a 6-0 league win in 2016, still Pirates’ heaviest ever defeat. They last clashed in the 2023 MTN8 final, which Pirates won 2-1.

That win means Pirates edge the record in those 14 MTN8 games. They have five wins to four for Sundowns, to go with five draws. It is a fairly even record in matches played down the years.

If you look purely at MTN8 ties between these two, there have been 10 (taking into account two legs and replays). Pirates have won six of those to Sundowns’ four, so hold the edge.

Pirates have been involved in 14 MTN8 semifinals in the PSL era and advanced on 10 occasions. That includes their last six semifinal ties. Their previous semifinal defeat was in 2012, and before that 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Sundowns have been to 16 semifinals int he PSL era and won seven of those, losing nine times in this round. That includes their last two semifinals ties in 2022 and 2024. In fact, they have won one of their last five MTN8 semifinals.

Sundowns have enjoyed tremendous success in the last decade, but have found MTN8 title wins hard to come by. They were victorious when they beat Cape Town City on penalties in the 2021 final, but that is their only title win since 2007. They lost the 2023 final on penalties to Orlando Pirates following a 0-0 draw.

Pirates have only lost two of their last 18 MTN8 fixtures (W13 D3), and the second of those defeats did not stop them advancing. They lost 2-1 to Moroka Swallows in the quarterfinals in 2021, and 1-0 to Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of their semifinal in 2023, but still advanced on the away goals rule. It is an incredibly consistent record in the competition.