On Friday, August 11, the MTN8 challenge begins as Bidvest Wits face off against Golden Arrows. Gavin Hunt's charges will be looking to start their campaign on a positive note, however Abafana Bes'thende will be hoping to dent The Students' chances at the title.
The EPL will also take place on Friday as Arsenal host Leicester City. The Gunners are in good spirit after securing the Community Shield and will want to begin their league race with a win against a City side that has had a run of poor performances.
Cape Town City will face off against Polokwane City in an MTN8 encounter on Saturday, August 12. Benni McCarthy will be involved in his first competitive match and will want to stamp his authority, however Polokwane are no walkovers.
Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United will lock horns in the quarterfinal of the MTN8 tournament. This promises to be an interesting fixture as both sides will be hoping to progress to the next round. Matsatsantsa will be looking to continue with their undefeated streak against Steve Komphela's side.
Manchester City will travel away as they face off against EPL newcomers, Brighton. Pep Guardiola's team has seen a lot of reshuffling taking place and the manager will be hoping to secure three points in his first match for the season.
On Sunday, August 13, El Clasico will be gracing our screens as Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the Spanish Super Cup. Whenever these two sides meet, the grass always seems to suffer and this time it will be no different.
Mamelodi Sundowns will host Maritzburg United in the MTN8 quarterfinal. On paper, Masandawana are the stronger side, however the Team of Choice will be out to cause an upset.
Manchester United take on West Ham in an EPL fixture. The Hammers will have to put their best foot forward at Old Trafford as the team has battled to defeat their opponents in the past.
Tottenham will travel away as they face off against Newcastle United. Spurs will be looking to begin their season with a win after finishing second last season.
Juventus will face off against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. Juve come into the encounter in much better form, compared to their opponents, however anything can happen as Lazio will be seeking to add silverware to their cabinet.
Barcelona v Real Madrid (Supercopa de Espana)
2016/17 league rankings: Barcelona 2nd Real Madrid 1st (La Liga)
Useful facts: Despite Real Madrid's European double triumph last season, Barcelona hold the historical advantage in this game, having won 12 Supercopas, compared to Los Blancos' nine. Furthermore, Madrid have won just one of their last six against their eternal rivals, including two 3-2 losses in the Miami Clasico a week-and-a-half ago, as well as a pulsating affair towards the end of last season. What does count in Madrid's favour, however, is that they won their last Supercopa against the Catalans back in 2012 under the guidance of Jose Mourinho after their previous league-winning season.
Abel Mabaso: Real Madrid
Wits v Golden Arrows (MTN8)
2016/17 league rankings: Wits 1st Arrows 8th (Absa Premiership)
Useful facts: Arrows come into this game on the back of two defeats from their last three games in all competitions last season, while last season's MTN8 champions also lost two in that timeframe. However, the Students have a clear historical advantage against Clinton Larsen's charges, with seven wins from their last nine league encounters and no losses since way back in 2008.
Abel Mabaso: Tough one! I'll go for Golden Arrows.
Arsenal v Leicester(Premier League)
2016/17 league rankings:Arsenal 6th Leicester 12th
Useful facts: Arsenal come into this game high on confidence after their Community Shield win against Chelsea last weekend, and they have also won their last five Premier League matches. Leicester, on the other hand, have failed to win 19 of their last 21 in the league and have also failed to win any of their last six against the Gunners.
Abel Mabaso: Arsenal
Cape Town City v Polokwane City (MTN8)
2016/17 league rankings: Cape Town City 3rd Polokwane City 6th (Absa Premiership)
Useful facts: Rise and Shine won five of their last seven matches last season, with a final matchday win over their quarterfinal opponents. Furthermore, last season's Telkom Knockout winners have lost four of their previous eight, including games as the club formerly known as Mpumalanga Black Aces, against Polokwane.
Abel Mabaso: Cape Town
Kaizer Chiefs v SuperSport United (MTN8)
2016/17 league rankings: Kaizer Chiefs 4th SuperSport United 5th (Absa Premiership)
Useful facts: Mzansi comes to a standstill in another classic encounter between these two, with the Tshwane-based side having avoided defeat in all of their last three against Amakhosi, including a win via a penalty shootout in last season's Nedbank Cup. However, SuperSport lost two of their last three games at the end of last season, although one of the two victories saw them win the Nedbank Cup under former coach Stuart Baxter. With that said, Amakhosi won just one of their last seven leading up to the end of last season.
Abel Mabaso: SuperSport
Mamelodi Sundowns v Maritzburg Utd (MTN8)
2016/17 league rankings: Sundowns 2nd Maritzburg 7th (Absa Premiership)
Useful facts:Sundowns will be out for revenge against a Maritzburg team that effectively cost them the league title in the penultimate game last season, but may be concerned by their form, which has seen them win just two of their last nine games in all competitions. Fadlu Davids' charges, on the other hand, are undefeated in their last seven games, which include three wins.
Abel Mabaso: Sundowns
Man Utd v West Ham (Premier League)
2016/17 league rankings:Man Utd 5th West Ham 11th
Useful facts: Jose Mourinho's team were on an incredible run of form in the Premier League, coming off the end of last season, with the Red Devils remaining undefeated in 27 of their last 29 games. Furthermore, the Hammers have a poor record against their opponents, having won just one of their last six in head-to-head encounters.
Abel Mabaso:Man United
Juventus v Lazio (Sapercopa Italian A)
2016/17 league rankings: Juventus 1st Lazio 5th (Supercoppa Italiana)
Useful facts: Juve unquestionably have the upper hand against the Copa Italia finalists, having won all of their last six encounters. However, Massimiliano Allegri's side may still be reeling after their 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League final in June and, to add salt to the wounds, they lost two key players in Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci, which Lazio will have identified as parts of the defence to exploit.
Abel Mabaso: Juve
Brighton v Man City (Premier League)
2016/17 league rankings: Brighton 2nd (EFL Championship) Man City 5th (Premier League)
Useful facts: Surprisingly, the last encounter between these two in recent history was a League Cup game that saw the Premier League new boys emerge as winners in a penalty shootout, having drawn 2-2 against the Citizens in the League Cup. However, City's four consecutive league wins at the end of last season and a world-record transfer window of enforcements will see them come into the game with confidence.
Abel Mabaso: City
Newcastle v Tottenham (Premier League)
2016/17 league rankings: Newcastle 1st (EFL Championship) Tottenham 2nd (Premier League)
Useful facts: Newcastle return to the Premier League against one of their favoured opponents over the years. A 5-1 win in May 2016 was a small consolation after getting relegated before their last appearance in the Premier League. However, even though they won three of their last six against last season's runners-up, the London-based team won 12 of their last 13 games last season and will be looking to mount another title challenge.
Abel Mabaso: Spurs
