Figures revealing Mamelodi Sundowns performance this season and reasons they might lose the title

Sundowns appear to have handed the league championship to Orlando Pirates for the first time in nine years following their unexpected 3-2 loss which positions them three points clear of The Buccaneers with two fixtures remaining for the latter.

With Pirates enjoying a much better goal difference they only require a single victory in their leftover matches against Durban City at home or Orbit College away to claim the prize for the first time since 2012.

Cardoso aimed to highlight that this league effort was almost impressive yet by key indicators it falls short of 2024/25 prompting the query: is the squad regressing?

The team reached the CAF Champions League final in each season and their odd results in recent weeks might stem from focusing on the clash with AS FAR the initial leg set for Pretoria this Sunday.

It would be understandable if so since this is the competition they truly targeted at the seasons outset.

However examining their league statistics from 2024/25 to 2025/26 raises concerns for supporters particularly as the prior year spanned 28 matches.

League points

In 2024/25 they secured 73 points across 28 games averaging 2.61 per match versus 68 from 30 this year at 2.27 a drop of nearly half a point each game.

Admittedly their calendar has been crowded recently but it mirrored the previous term. Memories fade quickly.

For some cause they lacked the steadiness of 2025/26.

League wins

They triumphed in 24 out of 28 fixtures last year an 86% rate against 20 from 30 this time at 67%. The key gap lies in failing to secure victories.

Prior season saw only one stalemate this one eight. Converting those ties to triumphs proved challenging.

League goals scored

Sundowns trailed in this area until netting nine in the final two outings which lifted their count.

They hit 57 goals over 30 games an average of 1.90 each but below last years 65 in 28 at 2.32.

Its puzzling given their seemingly stronger forward line this term.

They failed to score in three encounters this season versus two before so minor variance yet overall output dropped notably.

League goals conceded

Last season Sundowns leaked 13 in 28 games this year 21 in 30.

Strikingly seven of those or 33% of the total arrived in the campaigns closing pair. Actually within a 105-minute window just beyond standard game time.

Perhaps pursuing goals to match Pirates difference but atypical for this recent Sundowns side.

It marks the highest concessions in one season since 2019/20.

Their +36 goal difference ties the poorest since 2020/21 at +35.