Jose Riveiro says it’s still early to judge the gap between Pirates and Sundowns

Pirates, who have not beaten Sundowns in a league game in five years but had the better of them in two cup finals during this period, again came off second best this past weekend, losing 4-1 to the Brazillians.

Sundowns have now opened a nine-point gap between them and Pirates but Riveiro it’s still too early to tell.

"The difference between the two teams will be shown at the end of the season, after 30 games. Then we will see if we are on the same level, if the difference is big, if it's not but today is one game and the games can go sometimes in different directions,” Riveiro said.

“I mean even though in the first half Sundowns was better than us, we scored the Hotto chance, we're talking about the difference in the second half maybe. We survived the first 20 minutes of the game not conceding.

“So, the difference is never in one game, even when we beat them in the final in the Nedbank, the difference between the two teams wasn't there right and it's 90 minutes as well.

“Today is again, 90 minutes, obviously every time these two teams are finding each other in one game, let's be honest, you call it a clash, there's a lot of things to be said and to be played."  

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With Pirates seen as cup specialists in the last three years under Riveiro, this is the season where many see them as a team that can challenge Sundowns for the league title.

But in this latest game, the Spanish-born coach has more on the difference between the two teams.

"They were better than us in order to find a way to win this match despite the circumstances. That was the only difference for me between the two teams. They were much more efficient with the players in the last line, not giving us so many opportunities in transitions as well,” he added.

“So, well played, well done from the opponents but the difference is never the score in one game, that's what I'm trying to say. Let's be fair with both teams."