Weekend Global Sports Preview : BATE Look to Continue Good Form

Last Updated : 6th May, 2020 By Steve A

VENUE

Various Venues in Belarus

TIME

Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May

See Stats

After the first seven games of the new Belarus Premier League, it's FC Slutsk who lead the table by two points. Our preview looks ahead to the top games being played this weekend as BATE Borisov hope to conitinue their recent good form.

Friday 8 May: FC Slutsk v Energetik (3pm KO)

FC Slutsk start the weekend two points clear but there's something they are yet to do this season. That's keep a clean sheet and both teams have scored in all of the last five games they have played. Although Slutsk have won their last three league games, that inability to stop conceding does give teams hope against them. They will need to sort that problem out, as they take on BATE Borisov after this game against Energetik. Slutsk have only lost one game this season but home form isn't that impressive with just one win in the last three.

Energetik saw their season get off to a great start with three wins in a row. They topped the table but then slid down the league to eighth after losing the next three. They returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win at struggling Smolevichi, though the second goal didn't come until the 95th minute and that was a penalty. The win took them up to fourth in the table and four points behind their opponents in this game. Away from home they had two wins and two defeats. A bet on both teams to score is the one to go for.

Saturday 9 May: Slavia Mozyr v Torpedo Zhodino (3pm KO)

Slavia Mozyr are seventh in the Belarus Premier League and six points behind top-of-the-table FC Slutsk. They will find it hard to close the gap on the league leaders with this game against second-placed Torpedo Zhodino. Slavia won their last league game 3-2 at Vibetsk and that wasn't looking likely three minutes before full time. They trailed 2-1 before two goals in a minute gave them th win. That ended a run of four league and cup games without a win. They have the third worst defensive record in the league with 12 conceded in seven games. Home form is mixed with a win, draw and loss so far.

It was a bit of a shock for Zhodino fans in their last league fixture. They had only scored four goals in their first six league games but then went and put five past bottom-of-the-table Belshina. Their hero was Valeri Gorbachik who scored a first-half hat-trick. Zhodino have performed well on the road this season with a couple of wins, a draw and one loss to date. They only trail leaders FC Slutsk by a couple of points and the tip is for them to get the win at Slavia.

Sunday 10 May: Smolevichi v BATE Borisov (4pm KO)

BATE Borisov finished second in the Belarus Premier League last season and start this weekend in third place. That's a massive improvement after beginning the new season with two away games and two defeats. Since then, they have won four out of five games. Indeed, a form guide for the last five league games has them top of the table. They are now only three points behind the league leaders and will be confident of winning this game at Smolevichi. BATE have scored nine goals in their last five league fixtures and only conceded one goal. They may have started the season with two away losses but have won the two that have followed.

Smolevichi are a newly-promoted side but are finding life in the Premier League a tough challenge. Their opening seven games have only produced three points and they are still looking for their first win of the season. More worrying is the side who are one from bottom in the table are already five points from safety. They have only scored three goals in their seven games and none have come from open play since their opening fixture. Home form has seen them earn just a single point in three games with one goal scored by them. This looks booked for another win for BATE, back them to lead at both half and full time.