Torpedo Zhodino v Belshina
Torpedo got their league campaign off to the perfect start last week when they won 1-0 at Shaktyor thanks to Gabriel Ramos’ 90th minute goal. The victory came five days after they were beaten by the same side in the Belarus Cup. Belshina’s season began promisingly scoring after just seven minutes in their curtain-raiser at home to FC Minsk. But a penalty five minutes into the second half started the visitors’ comeback that saw two further goals scored in a comfortable 3-1 win. BTTS and over 2.5 goals paid out in the two meetings last season which saw Torpedo win 3-1 at Belshina while the first fixture finished 2-2 with Torpedo twice coming from a goal down to rescue a point.
Suggested bet: Torpedo Zhodino to win and over 2.5 goals
Rukh Brest v Energetyk-BDU
Energetyk-BDU sit top of the Belarus top division after they too got their season up and running with a 3-1 win. at home to BATE Borisov. Energetyk-BDU effectively had the points in the bag when they turned around leading 2-0 thanks to Jasurbek Yakhshiboev’s goals in the 26th and 34th minutes. Rukh Brest picked up their first win at the first time of asking when they beat Dinamo Minsk 1-0 in the Traktor Stadium. This will be the first ever meeting between these two sides following Brest’s promotion to the top flight at the end of last season.
Suggested bet: Draw
FC Slutsk v Dinamo Brest
There was only one draw in the opening round of games in the Belarus Vysshaya Liga and that involved the defending champions Dinamo Brest who had to rally from a goal down at home to earn a point against Smolevichi-STI. Cameroon midfielder Gaby Junior Kiki goal ensured Dinamo Brest drew their third successive game of the season after their previous two fixtures in the domestic cup competition ended goalless in 90 minutes. FC Slutsk go into this game full of confidence after beating Slavia Mozyr 3-1 in the Slutsk City Stadium in a game that saw three of the four goals scored from the penalty spot. Andrei Chukhlei opened the scoring for the visitors with the first penalty before Soslan Takulov converted his own penalty on the stroke of half-time. Artem Serdyuk wrapped up the win for the home side with his second coming from the spot. Three of the last four meetings have seen goals for both teams while the last three encounters have seen a minimum of three total goals scored.
Suggested bet: Both teams to score
Slavia Mozyr v BATE Borisov
BATE Borisov remain the only team from Belarus to have reached the group stage of the Champions League but after finishing second last season, they had to go through qualification for the Europa League. They failed at the first round and will hope to be back at the top of their domestic league come the end of the season. However, they began their season with a 3-1 loss at Energetyk-BDU while Slavia Mozyr suffered defeat by the same score when they travelled to FC Slutsk. In three of the last four meetings, three or more goals have been scored as BATE came out on top in all four.
Suggested bet: BATE to win and over 2.5 goals
FC Minsk v Dinamo Minsk
Two of the three clubs based in Minsk meet when Dinamo travel to FC Minsk. Fifteen times, these two sides have met and 15 times FC Minsk have failed to win. Five draws is all the home side in this fixture have to show as their rivals have certainly had the better of previous battles. But will the tide turn this week? FC Minsk are second in the table following their 3-1 win at Belshina while Dinamo followed up back-to-back defeats in the Belarus Cup to BATE Borisov with a 1-0 loss at home to Rukh Brest. There have been goals for both teams in two of the last three meetings and over 2.5 has paid out in two of the last three meetings.
Suggested bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals