BATE vs Slutsk | 16.05.2020

Round 9 of the newly popular Belarusian Premier League brings us a top of the table clash on Saturday evening as new league leaders BATE host 2nd place Slutsk. The hosts finally earned their place at the top of the table last weekend as Slutsk suffered their second loss of the season.

As an established giant in the Belarusian Premier League, BATE go into this as strong favourites, despite the visitors’ extremely impressive campaign thus far, which sees them currently behind their hosts only on goal difference. We’ve taken a closer look at this fixture to provide you with our best betting tips.

After a terrible start to the season, which saw them lose two league games on the trot and get knocked out the cup by Slavia Mozyr, BATE have bounced back and now sit at the top of the table. BATE have won 4 of their last 5 and are the league’s top scorers with 16 goals. BATE’s quick turn around will have greatly relieved manager Kirill Alshevsky, who found himself under immense pressure after just a matter of weeks in the job. Especially now that Slutsk have finally slipped up, BATE should be confident of a home win on Saturday.

Slutsk have surprised everyone this season, as the minnows had a storming start to the campaign that saw them sit top of the table until their slip up against Energetik-BGU Minsk last week. Every weekend of the campaign so far, the bookies backed Slutsk to capitulate, yet every weekend they continued to prove them wrong. Now that Slutsk finally have come unstuck, the task of returning to winning ways at the Borisov Arena is a daunting one. However, with 15 goals so far this season, just one less than their hosts, Slutsk will be confident they can at least find the net in Borisov.

Historically this fixture very much belongs to 15 time title winners, BATE. Since Slutsk’s promotion to the top flight in 2014, the teams have met 15 times, with BATE winning 14 of them. Slutsk’s only win against BATE was a 1-0 home league game in 2017, which BATE emphatically avenged in the return fixture, thumping Slutsk 6-0 in the Borisov Arena. The stats also suggest that BATE should run up a decent goal tally, as they’ve scored 3 or more goals in 4 of the last 5 matches between the sides, while Slutsk have netted just once.

The history between these two sides and Slutsk’s from so far this season tell two different stories. However, we’ve balanced the stats from this season and past matches between these two teams to come up with our best betting tip for this top of the table clash in the Belarussian Premier League.

Having analysed both the past meetings between BATE & Slutsk as well as both teams’ form so far this season, we’re going for a home win.

Despite Slutsk’s impressive start to the season, all signs point to a BATE win on Saturday, as the home side will be looking to retain what they feel is their rightful place at the top of the table. We don’t expect the visitors to make it as easy for their hosts as it has been in the past though. While Slutsk have only found the net once in their past 5 meetings with BATE, they have proven their firepower this season, having only failed to score on one occasion this season.

Our betting tip this week is a BATE win with both teams to score, which is available at 2/1 odds with Ladbrokes. BATE seem almost certain to continue their recent run of form, while Slutsk look set for a 2nd loss on the bounce for the first time this season. However given Slutsk’s firepower, a consolation goal looks certain.