Cardiff City will be aiming to make it four pre-season wins in a row when they continue their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a clash against Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday afternoon.
The Welsh outfit will enter the contest off the back of an impressive 3-0 victory over Hamburg, while South African side Sundowns suffered a 1-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev in their last friendly fixture.
Match preview
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Cardiff's preparations for next season started off on a disappointing note, suffering a 1-0 loss to Kidderminster Harriers, but they have been victorious in each of their last three pre-season fixtures.
Indeed, the Bluebirds beat Kortrijk 3-1 on July 13 before putting seven past Penybont three days later.
Cardiff's toughest test, at least on paper, came against Hamburg on Sunday afternoon, but they put in an excellent performance to run out 3-0 winners, with Ollie Tanner, Isaak Davies and Callum Robinson on the scoresheet.
Erol Bulut's side, who finished 12th in the Championship last season, have four more friendlies in the diary, tackling Hertha Berlin, Reading and Bristol Rovers in their three after this one, before opening their new Championship campaign against Sunderland on August 10.
Cardiff have only made two signings so far this summer, bringing in Calum Chambers and Chris Willock, but more are expected to follow in the coming weeks, as Bulut builds his squad for the upcoming season.
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Sundowns, meanwhile, have played two pre-season friendlies since ending their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the final of the Nedbank Cup at the start of June.
Manqoba Mnqithi's side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sandhausen on July 16 before losing 1-0 to Dynamo Kiev last time out, so they will be bidding to avoid a third loss in a row on Tuesday.
Sundowns are the reigning South African champions, finishing at the top of the pile last season, some 16 points ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates.
They are actually 17-time South African champions and have lifted the trophy in each of the last seven years.
Sundowns have released a number of their squad since the end of last season, but they have brought in three new players, including centre-forward Arthur Sales from Lommel.
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Team News
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Mamelodi are expected to have new signing Sales at the tip of their attack on Tuesday, while there should also be a start for another recent arrival in the shape of Kobamelo Kodisang.
Ricardo Goss has also joined this summer to boost the goalkeeping department at the club, and it is likely that the 31-year-old will be in the XI for the first whistle in this contest.
As for Cardiff, Perry Ng was back in the starting XI against Hamburg, and head coach Bulut again decided to make a number of changes during the course of the match.
Interestingly, though, there were no substitutions at the interval, and as the start of the season draws closer, the manager will be wanting to get more minutes in the legs of the senior players.
Davies and Robinson might both potentially come into the starting side against Sundowns, while Rubin Colwill could also be in line for a position in the XI for the Welsh club's next pre-season clash.
Mamelodi Sundowns possible starting lineup:
Goss; Mvala, Kekana, Lebusa, Modiba; Coetzee, Aubaas, Mokoena; Msani, Sales, Kodisang
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Collins, Goutas, McGuinness, Ng; Ralls, R Colwill, O'Dowda; Robinson, Davies, Tanner
We say: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-3 Cardiff City
Sundowns are a team used to winning football matches, and they are certainly capable of making this a competitive match. That said, we are expecting Cardiff to be too strong for their opponents on Tuesday, and the Welsh outfit should run out comfortable winners.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
