Five key fixtures across the two groups constitute Game Week 8 of the Dialog Champions League, with the results of these games likely to decide who continues to play in this year’s competition and who goes down a division this year.
ThePapare.com has a detailed look at Game Week 8.
Group A
Solid SC vs Army SC (3rd August at Prison Grounds Anuradhapura at 3:30pm)
A postponed clash from last week will allow both teams additional time to get their tactics right for a clash that Solid need at least a point from, to pump some momentum into their campaign after two draws against less fancied sides.
Army on the other hand look set to qualify with 15 points from 5 games and still have games in hand against Negombo Youth and Crystal Palace in which they would be firm favourites.
Expect a tight game in what is likely to be the best game of the midweek clashes.
Up Country Lions vs Blue Star SC (3rd August at Jayathillake Stadium Nawalapitiya at 3:30pm)
Big clash in Group A which will probably decide which of these two teams qualify for the Super 8s.
The Lions have played a majority of their tough games and a win will give them a great chance of making the Super 8s.
Blue Star on the other hand would be satisfied with a draw as they will be firm favourites at home against Matara City, a game they will have to win.
The Lions will play at home, and should fancy their chances of inflicting a second defeat at the Jayatillake Stadium on the Kalutara Giants.
Negombo Youth vs Matara City (3rd August at Kelaniya Football Complex at 3:30pm)
Negombo Youth are in great form, banging in 11 goals in their last two games and will be firm favourites when they take on Matara City in their midweek clash.
Matara City on the other hand needs to win this game to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation. The team from the south has only a point after 5 games but a win here and another win against Civil Security SC in Week 9 could lead them to safety.
Expect a tight encounter.
Group B
Police SC vs Saunders SC (3rd August at Police Grounds at 3:30pm)
The Policemen are not out of the danger zone of relegation yet, but a win against Saunders will see them to safety.
Saunders have stuttered this season and have had their victory over Super Sun annulled due to player ineligibility, resulting in them too becoming potential candidates for relegation.
Saunders has the quality to overcome Police, though it will not prove to be an easy task on their home turf.
The match will be shown LIVE on ThePapare.com
Super Sun SC vs Thihariya Youth SC (3rd August at Vernon Fernando Stadium Kalutara at 3:30pm)
The Beruwala based team suffered a terrible run of results at the beginning of the season which saw them chalk up their first points of the season only in Game Week 4.
Things are looking far better for them as things stand though, and if they come up trumps against Thihariya Youth and Police, they stand a very good chance of making the Super 8s.
Super Sun will know they need to win this, and will go in as favourites against the bottom team of Group B, for whom relegation is almost certain.
