It’s still early days of course in this season’s Vysshaya Liga campaign but Sunday’s hosts, Smolevichi, face a tough task in this upcoming encounter against an ever-improving BATE outfit who have moved up into 3rd place in the Vysshaya Liga table in ominous fashion.
Smolevichi currently sit second from bottom in the early Belarus top flight standings with just 3 points under their belts so far this term, courtesy of draws with Dinamo Brest, Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Belshina, but 4 defeats already this season suggest that this could be a long and tough campaign for the hosts.
Although Smolevichi hold supposed home advantage for this upcoming clash against BATE, the home side have lost their last two matches on the trot at their Stadyen FLC Oktyabrsky, and indeed, have lost 3 of their 4 matches on home turf already this term.
Defeats to Vitebsk, Dinamo Minsk and Energetyk-BGU indicate that further struggles could be in store for Smolevichi who will be up against a BATE outfit who are starting to build impressive momentum.
Onto BATE then, and the visitors registered a fourth win in five matches overall in the Vysshaya Liga last weekend with a resounding 3-1 home win over lowly Neman Grodno which also helped BATE move up into 3rd spot and just 3 points behind the early league leaders, Slutsk, prior to this weekend’s action.
Early defeats to Energetyk-BGU and Slavia Mozyr saw BATE off to a surprisingly poor start to this new Vysshaya Liga campaign, but last season’s runners-up have quickly turned things around with recent wins against Rukh Brest, FC Minsk and Gorodeya, as well as the aforementioned victory over Neman Grodno.
BATE have also won their last two away matches on the trot as the visitors have quickly bounced back from their opening two defeats of the new season, both of which were away from home, while the bigger picture shows that BATE have lost just 2 of their last 11 matches on their travels in the domestic top flight.
Top Trends
BATE Borisov have a good record of 9 undefeated games of their last 11 away encounters in Premier League
FC Smolevichi have won just 1 of their last 7 matches in Premier League
There have been over 2.5 goals in 5 of BATE Borisov's 6 most recent away games in Premier League
BATE Borisov have scored at least one goal in their last 13 away league games
In addition, BATE have been scoring goals on a regular basis away from home as the visitors have scored 2 goals or more in 7 of these last 11 matches on the road, and they look likely to hit the back of the net again at Smolevichi this Sunday too.
Goals could therefore feature in this clash with BATE perhaps winning this one 3-1.
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