TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 10 – 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
2 CASH-ADDED SOCCER 10 BETS AND A R16-MILLION SOCCER 13
Club football returns this weekend with an enticing list of games, ranging from the local MTN8 final between the two best teams in the country to a full round of English Premier League clashes that includes a likely bad-tempered encounter at Anfield between Liverpool and Manchester City. And for TAB soccer customers there’s a raft of opportunities to make their football knowledge pay, including a R16-million Soccer 13 jackpot in the event of a single outright winner and R150,000-added Soccer 10 pools tonight and tomorrow.
STAND BY FOR A MTN8 THRILLER IN DURBAN
The MTN8 final in Durban pits cup kings and reigning league champions Orlando Pirates against Sundowns, long the dominant force in South African football and who compensated for their failure to win the league nine years running by clinching the CAF Champions League last season.
Both teams are bang in form. Pirates have conceded just three goals in 12 matches in all competitions this season, scoring 25 goals in the process. Star attacker Relebohile Mofokeng has moved abroad, but new signing Gamphani Lungu has hit the ground running, Oswin Appollis remains a huge force and youngsters like Boitumelo Radiopane and Kabelo Kgositsile have also come to the fore.
And coach Abdeslam Ouaddou may have unexpected options available tomorrow as several players continue their recovery from injury. Mohau Nkota, Evidence Makgopa, Thalente Mbatha, Makhehleni Makhaula and Masindi Nemtajela have all travelled with the Pirates squad to Durban and one or more of them could feature in the final.
Sundowns have had an excellent start to the new season. They are top of the Betway Premiership table, one point ahead of Pirates who have played a game less, and have progressed in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a win over Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
It has the makings of a cracking game that could be decided by penalties, but Pirates at their current odds of 2.9-1 look a value bet. They excel in knockout competitions and have won the MTN8 trophy 14 times, including the last four in succession.
Sundowns, the current 2.6-1 favourites, often seem to lose their nerve in vital cup encounters and have won the MTN8 only four times and CAF Champions League twice, not quite the haul you would expect from a team that has been among Africa’s best for many years.
EPL GAMES TOUGH TO CALL AFTER INTERNATIONAL BREAK
The final is included in tomorrow’s cash-added Soccer 10 and Soccer 6 bets.
With the exception of Arsenal at home to Leeds tomorrow (a match you have to expect the reigning champions to win comfortably), the EPL games through the weekend all look hard to call. Several teams are yet to find their rhythm after just five league matches this term and all will be affected to varying degrees by the recent international break that has put several key players on the sidelines.
And in the case of Manchester City it remains to be seen whether the recent guilty verdict on 114 charges of contravening EPL financial rules and non- cooperation will impact on their performance.
City have lodged an appeal, but they are suddenly the team virtually every football fan loves to hate and they can expect a hostile reception at Anfield on Sunday with “cheats” banners galore.
City are five for five in the league this season and should continue on their winning way against a so-far unconvincing Liverpool outfit, provided the crowd hostility does not unnerve them.
Recommended bankers for tonight’s cash-added Soccer 10 are home victories for Borussia Dortmund, West Ham and Gimnasia LP. Saturday’s suggested bankers are home wins for Chelsea and away successes for Brighton, Atletico Madrid and Wrexham.
MATCH PREVIEWS FOR R150,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 BETS
Friday 9 October – S10 V2
M1 Moreirense vs Gil Vicente: TAB is kicking in R150,000 to this Soccer 10 so expect a bumper pot of some R2 million! Moreirense are ninth in Portuguese premier league with eight points, two ahead of Gil Vicente who are winless in last four league games. Last meeting ended 2-2.
M2 Dunkerque vs FC Annecy: French Ligue 2. Dunkerque have lost two in a row and Annecy have won four of last eight. Annecy are seventh with 10 points, two more than Dunkerque in 12th. Annecy won last meeting 1-0 away.
M3 Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen: Dortmund are on a six-game winning streak and top the German Bundesliga, five points ahead of Bremen in eighth. Dortmund won last meeting 2-0 away.
M4 Avellino vs Sampdoria: Italian Serie B. Avellino are eighth with seven points, three more than Sampdoria in 17th after five games. Avellino have lost four of last eight games and Sampdoria five of last eight. Last meeting Sampdoria won 2-1 at home.
M5 SK Beveren vs Lommel SK: Belgian Jupiler Pro. Beveren have won five of last nine games and are one point ahead of Lommel after seven matches. Beveren won last meeting between them 2-0.
M6 Lens vs Lyon: French Ligue 1. Lens have won five of last 10 games and Lyon are unbeaten in their last five. Lyon second on log with 11 points, seven more than Lens in 15th after five games. Lens won last meeting 4-0 away, their fifth win to Lyon’s six in last 15 clashes.
M7 West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers: West Ham have won five of last eight games and are second in the English Championship with 15 points, two more than QPR, winless in their last four. West Ham won last meeting 2-1 in a FA Cup clash.
M8 Malaga vs Espanyol: LaLiga. Malaga winless in last nine games and Espanyol have lost two straight. Espanyol are 15th with seven points, four ahead of Malaga in 20th.
M9 Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP: Braga unbeaten in nine of last 10 and Sporting are unbeaten in last 10. Last meeting ended 2-2. Sporting are third with 15 points, four points ahead of sixth-placed Braga, and have won eight of last 15 meetings with five draws.
M10 Gimnasia LP vs Atletico Tucuman: Argentine premier division. Gimnasia unbeaten in last five games and are sixth with 26 points. Tucuman winless in last four games and 13th with 14 points, Tucaman won last meeting 1-0 in March.
Saturday 10 October – S10 V1
M1 Genoa vs Fiorentina: This mid-afternoon pool also starts with a R150,000 bonus add-in from TAB. Genoa have lost six of last nine games, whereas Fiorentina are unbeaten in last four. Last meeting ended 0-0. Fiorentina 17th with four points in Serie A and Genoa 19th on one point after five games. Head-to-head: Fiorentina six wins and Genoa one in last 15 meetings.
M2 Mainz 05 vs Bayer Leverkusen: Mainz have won seven of last 10 games and Leverkusen are unbeaten in last four. Last meeting ended 1-1 in February. Both level on seven points in fifth and sixth respectively in Bundesliga. Leverkusen lead head-to-head win tally over seven years 10-2.
M3 Union Berlin vs SV Elversberg: Berlin have lost six of their last 10 games, whereas Elversberg have won six of last 10. Elversberg are seventh on seven points with Berlin 17th on one point after four games.
M4 Aston Villa vs Brentford: Villa have won three in a row and Brentford are unbeaten in their last nine. Brentford fourth in EPL with nine points, five more than Villa in 16th after five games. Brentford won last meeting 1-0 away.
M5 Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Chelsea have won six of last 10 games with Bournemouth winless in seven of last nine. Chelsea 10th with seven points, four more than Bournemouth in 17th. Last meeting ended 2-2.
M6 Ipswich Town vs Fulham: Ipswich have won six of last 10 games and Fulham are unbeaten in last three. Ipswich 11th on six points and Fulham 19th on two points in EPL.
M7 Sunderland vs Brighton: Sunderland vs Brighton: Sunderland have won six of their last 10 games and Brighton have lost only one of five league games this season. Brighton are third with 10 points, six ahead of 14th-placed Sunderland.
M8 Deportivo Alaves vs Atletico Madrid: The visitors are on a three-game winning streak and are second in LaLiga with 16 points. Alaves are winless in their last three and are sixth with 11 points. In last 15 clashes Madrid have won 10 times to Alaves’ two.
M9 Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns: MTN8 final. Pirates are unbeaten in their last 10 games and Sundowns in their last seven. In last 10 clashes Sundowns have won three times with four victories by Pirates (two on penalty shootouts).
M10 Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Both misfiring and United are 12th in the EPL with five points, three more than Spurs in last. United are winless in last three games and Spurs in last five. In last 15 meetings Spurs have won six times to United’s five.