The First Capital Plus Premier League has just four games more till it ends in September. 

In midweek, Asante Kotoko showed that they can rise when they need to. The 23 time champions are now fifth. Matchday 27 will see eight crucial games played across the country and we here at Joy Sports are looking forward to them.

All games will be played concurrently to avoid any funny business.

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Hearts of Oak v Bechem United

Despite their 1-0 victory over Liberty Professionals in mid-week, Hearts could not lift themselves out of the 15th position. 

Many expect Hearts to overcome visiting Bechem United who have to deal with the disappointment of not causing an upset at home against league leaders AshGold. While Hearts have the luxury of a 30-minute drive to their home after the last game in Dansoman, Bechem will travel for more than three hours to get to the Accra Stadium.

Will distance and subsequent fatigue be an issue?

Hearts (15TH) last five games: W L L W L
Bechem (12TH) last five games: D D W L L

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Aduana Stars v Great Olympics

Great Olympics will travel all the way to the Agyeman Badu Park to battle Aduana Stars after impressively beating third-placed Berekum Chelsea 4-2 in mid week. 

It was Wednesday’s highest-scoring game but the victory could not see Oly leave the drop zone. 

Olympics have a fairly good record compared to the other teams in the bottom three. They have won three games in their last five and are desperate to survive in the league this time round. 

However, Aduana won’t be easy to beat. They are just one point shy of the league leaders AshGold and they will make yet another attempt once again to beat Olympics and hope that AshGold will either draw or lose. Aduana Stars’ have to improve on that poor goal-scoring record as it could really affect whether they win the league or not. 

Here's an odd stat: despite being in the relegation zone, Olympics have six more goals than that of Aduana with 28! 

If Aduana’s strikers don’t score more goals, they may to swallow the bitter pill they had AshGold swallow in 2010 when they snatched the league from the latter by virtue of goals.

Aduana (2ND) last five games: W W W L W
Olympics (14TH) last five games: W D W D W

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Wa All Stars v Liberty Professionals

Both teams will come into this game after suffering defeats in their last games in midweek. 

Hosts, All Stars, lost woefully to defending champions Asante Kotoko 3-1 while Liberty lost at home by a lone goal to city rivals Hearts of Oak. 

Both teams will not want to repeat this result. The last time the two met, Liberty emerged victors by a lone goal to send All Stars all the way up north looking glum. A win for Wa All Stars will also see them get that much needed points to reach the 40 point mark which ensures their stay in the league.

All Stars (6TH) last five games: L W L W D
Liberty (11TH) last five games: L L W L D

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AshGold v Medeama

The league leaders were hoping to strengthen their chances of claiming the title this season but it was not meant to be. The Miners were held in a goalless draw away against Bechem United in midweek. 

The last time the two sides met, Medeama came on top after scoring two unanswered goals. The visit to Obuasi comes on the back of another victory after beating WAFA 2-1 in midweek. 

Three points will be enough for the visitors to survive in the league and so would it be for the hosts AshGold who need to win this game to make sure they are not overrun by the second-place Aduana Stars. The team with the highest determination will carry the day on Sunday.

AshGold (1ST) last five games: D W L D L
Medeama (7TH) last five games: W D L W D

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WAFA v Berekum Chelsea

WAFA have dropped three places down to eighth following that 2-1 defeat at Medeama in midweek. 

The club is undoubtedly this term’s surprise package and it should not be too difficult to get the three points needed to get to that safe house all other teams are fighting for. Chelsea are yet to recover after blowing their chance to become league leaders three weeks ago. 

They have not won a game since that 2-1 defeat to Bechem but have gone on to draw once and then to lose once. That loss came on Wednesday when Great Olympics came from a goal down to win a six-goal thriller, 4-2. 

WAFA’s squad which is largely made of their club’s academy players will be hoping to continue their good run at home when Chelsea visit.  

WAFA (8TH) last five games: L D L W L
Chelsea (3RD) last five games: L D L W W 

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Hasaacas v Heart of Lions

Hasaacas have won only one of their last five games and that was at home. 

The last time the two sides met, Lions were triumphant by two unanswered goals and the Sekondi side would want to reverse that on Sunday. 

The last time Hasaacas played at home was against Olympics. And they lost.

Lions come into this game after a massive five goal drubbing of bottom-placed B.A United. Last year’s runners-up, Lions - until a few weeks ago - looked set to be headed out of the league as they were stuck in the relegation rut. 

But they have been able to lift themselves and are now 10th. But they are not out of the woods yet as they need six more points to make sure they can secure their stay in the league. 

Hasaacas also need those three points to ensure their sustainability. 

Hasaacas (9TH) last five games: L D W L D
Lions (10TH) last five games: W L W L W

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B.A United v Edubiase

Following that 5-0 defeat to Lions, B.A United became the first team this club to lose their place in the next term. 

So, come September 13, the team's fans will be seeing their club for the last time in the Premier League until hopefully they can make it back after one year in the second tier. Edubiase however are not in the same situation - not just yet. 

They are 13th and need a win to ensure that they do not slip into the danger zone of relegation. According to projections by the Joy Sports team, Edubiase are in real danger of replacing Bechem United as a relegated team. They need the three points more than B.A and they are most likely to get it without trying too hard.

B.A Utd (16TH) last five games: L L L D L
Edubiase (13TH) last five games: D L W D W
 

Inter Allies v Asante Kotoko

The Tema Park will host two of the teams in the top five. 

Kotoko will travel back to the south this weekend as well as they face Inter Allies who have a strong winning record in the last few games. Allies have won as many as four games in their last six, drawn once and lost once. 

And all those non-wins have been in away games so when they play at home on Sunday, they will be confident to overcome. Allies managed to get the 40 point safe mark to ensure their stay for next season in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Edubiase in mid-week. 

The Porcupines also had some good things for themselves in mid-week. 

They recorded an impressive three wins out of three games when they beat visiting Wa All Stars 3-1. Last weekend, they looked like they would be joining rivals Hearts of Oak on their way out of the league. But like a strong fortress, they have remarkably lifted themselves to fifth. 

After two straight defeats against Berekum Chelsea [0-3] and WAFA SC [0-1], the defending champions who have struggled this season have seen a weighty change in fortunes in recent games, beating league leaders AshantiGold and arch-rivals Hearts of Oak – both with 2-1 scorelines and Wednesday’s victory over All Stars. 

And Obed Owusu hopes their new form can continue till season end. 

"If you observe, we have significantly improved since the Berekum Chelsea home defeat. We went on to lose again at WAFA but we have fought back and are getting the results. We have four matches more and it is our hope to continue like this. Our target is to end up at a respectable position,” he said.

They need just two points to join Inter Allies among the band of survivors this season. Which of these teams will continue their winning run?

Inter Allies (4TH) last five games: D W L W W
Kotoko (5TH) last five games: W W W L L

 
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Related features:

CLICK HERE TO READ: Joy Sports FCPPL relegation projections

CLICK HERE TO READ: Team-by-team analysis of the league title challenge

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The Joy Sports team will be bringing you commentary of all these exciting games on Sunday's Sports Arena at 3pm. Follow minute by minute updates by using the #JoySports hashtag on Twitter and Facebook.