
All eyes on Sundowns and SA's three URC quarterfinalists
Pyramids FC players celebrate at the final whistle after beating Sundowns in the first leg of their Champions League final match at Loftus last weekend. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Another exciting weekend of sport awaits us. There's plenty to keep football and rugby fans entertained, with these clashes our highlights.
PSG v Inter
PSG's trouble-filled efforts to win the Uefa Champions League could finally come to a happy ending on Saturday evening, as they take on Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Since they were injected with Qatari billions following their purchase by QSI in 2011, the Champions League has been the holy grail for the Paris side.
Yet they have only reached one previous final, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in 2019. This time they will be favourites to beat Inter.
But Simone Inzaghi's side have already sprung a couple of surprises in this year's tournament, taking down Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals and Barcelona in the semis.
Prediction: PSG 2 Inter 1
Pyramids FC v Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns have it all to do on Sunday when they take on Pyramids FC at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo in the second leg of their Caf Champions League final.
A last-gasp equaliser from Pyramids in Tshwane gave the Egyptian side a precious away goal to take back home, and they now know they will win a first ever Champions League if they can stop Sundowns from scoring.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso must get another good performance out of his team away from home.
Sundowns showed in the semifinals, when they won with a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Al Ahly in Cairo, that they are a force to be reckoned with on their travels.
Cardoso's side will probably look to keep it tight and hit Pyramids with a sucker punch. Expect a tight affair, but Sundowns might just sneak it.
Prediction: Pyramids 0 Sundowns 1
Rugby
URC quarterfinals
The Stormers take on Glasgow in Scotland on Friday night, while the Bulls host Edinburgh and the Sharks welcome Munster on Saturday.
It will take something special for the Stormers to win on the road, but expect big home games by the Bulls and Sharks. Unfortunately, South Africa might have just one team in the semifinals next week.
For my money the Sharks have not been strong enough, in all departments, to progress beyond this stage, while the Stormers face a tough time against the defending champions, who'll have a point to prove.
Jake White's Bulls also have a tough encounter against a side who have found way to make life difficult for them, and they have Sean Everitt coaching them, but expect them to come out on top.
Prediction: Bulls to win, Stormers and Sharks to lose
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The South African
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- The South African
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The Citizen
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- The Citizen
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- The South African
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