Orlando Pirates remain unbeaten in pre-season after playing to a 1-1 draw against Granada on Wednesday evening.
Gilberto was given his first start for Pirates, with Innocent Maela, Sandile Mthethwa, Makhehlene Makhaula, Patrick Maswanganyi and Evidence Makgopa brought back into the starting line-up.
Maswanganyi, who hit the ground running last season, looked to make the breakthrough with a smart move around the area but nothing yielded in the end.
The Spaniards were closest to taking the lead ten minutes played when Pablo Saenz managed to get space and lined-up a fierce shot that cannoned off the woodwork – seeing Sipho Chaine off the hook.
READ | Timm on how Pirates orchestrated Sevilla downfall
Despite being under the weather, Pirates still managed to go in front inside the midway mark when Gilberto pounced on a clever reverse pass from Maswanganyi to make it 1-0.
The lead didn't last long though as a mis-placed pass from Mthethwa led to a turnover and a certain Shon Weissman happened to be at the right place and time to profit with ease.
Pirates were urged into a first half substitution where forward Makgopa battled to continue – leaving understudy Tshegofatso Mabasa to step on.
A completely different line-up turned out in the second half on the side of the host, with the Buccaneers unchanged from the opening stages.
Granada enjoyed a lot of the earlier forays up top through a sustained level of possession, but lacked the necessary accuracy to infiltrate the defence of the Buccaneers.
The Sea Robbers opted to make wholesale changes inside the opening quarter of the second half, with young goalkeeper Siyabonga Dladla.
Mabasa very nearly put the Buccaneers ahead with a low shot from Karim Kimvuidi's through pass, but sound goalkeeping from Luca Zidane helped the effort onto the post.
With time running out, no further goals came and 1-1 it finished as the Buccaneers' pre-season tour in Spain continue unbeaten.