Cape Town City will be desperate to put their MTN8 final defeat behind them, when the Citizens play host to Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The Citizens were in control for the majority of their MTN8 showdown against SuperSport United in Durban this past weekend, but were unable to finish off their depleted hosts as they ultimately suffered a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Matsatsantsa.

City are on a two-game winning run in the league, having defeated local rivals Ajax Cape Town 2-0 at the end of September. Goals from Victor Obinna and Judas Moseamedi leading Benni McCarthy’s side to bragging rights in the ‘Mother City’.

As for Siwelele, the Free State side claimed their second win of the season when they edged defending Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits 1-0 last time out.

Having suffered but a single loss this season, Siwelele are on course for a solid campaign as they now set their sights on adding to City’s woes.

Phunya Sele Sele boast an unbeaten away record, with one win and two draws from their three games on the road this season.

In head-to-head stats, City and Celtic have met in just two previous league matches. Both of those encounters took place last season, with the Cape Town side claiming a 1-0 win in their home game, while the return in Bloemfontein finished in a goalless stalemate.

Predicted Starting 11:

Cape Town City: Stephens, Edmilson, Johannes, Gumede, Kobola - Putsche, Nodada, Patosi - Martin, Obinna, Majoro.

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Pfumbidzai, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Mabena, Mashikinya, Letlabika , Baloyi, Hotto, Motshegwa, Nyundu.

Head-to-Head:

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 CTC 1-0 Celtic Majoro

2016/17 Celtic 0-0 CTC

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)

Home

P W D L GF GA

CTC 1 1 0 0 1 0

Celtic 1 0 1 0 0 0

Away

P W D L GF GA

CTC 1 0 1 0 0 0

Celtic 1 0 0 1 0 1

Total

P W D L GF GA

CTC 2 1 1 0 1 0

Celtic 2 0 1 1 0 1

WHAT THEY SAID

Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy:

“It's not going to be easy [to bounce back] because my players took it really hard. They felt that the game [versus SuperSport] was there for them to lose, so we'll learn from this.

“The boys should be proud of themselves for proving the point that they have the ability to compete at the highest level, and now we just have to keep moving forward

“I think the best way of learning and growing as coaches is when you do taste defeat as much as you don't like to admit it. When you are nine games in your coaching career, you sitting third on the log and in your first final, then it'll always be nice to have a winner's medal to your name.

“You also learn by winning because you want to continue doing that. But when you lose I think it's how well you pick yourself up and how well you can get your players to switch on now and just push forward. That's going to be a challenge.”

Bloemfontein Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb:

“Cape Town City will try to prove a point following their defeat in the final. That will play into our favour I feel. One, because they are still hurt and two because I feel they will come at us, and that will open gaps for us to exploit.

“The first game after a cup final is never easy, they will also be tired having played 120 minutes of football.

“This is a very important game for us. We are happy, but humble following our win over Bidvest Wits. We take this upcoming game very seriously and we will go there with a winning attitude.”