Dinamo Brest and BATE got back to winning ways and their usual levels of excellence in the Vysshaya Liga with comfortable wins. Torpedo Zhodino ended Energetik-BGU’s perfect start to the season by inflicting a 2-0 loss, with both sides now atop the standings at nine points in this early stage of the campaign after a month of football being played.
Belshina host Smolevichi on Friday with both sides looking to pick up their first wins of the campaign. Gorodeya were the value bet of the last gameweek, edging Dinamo Minsk 1-0 at 28/10 odds.
Let’s get to this week’s action and try to make some money.
Thursday 16 April
Energetik-BGU 8/10
Draw 24/10
Gorodeya 33/10
(16:30)
Energetik-BGU will want to bounce back immediately and maintain their good form early on, while Gorodeya will also want to build on their back-to-back wins after losing their first two games. A cagey affair is expected and these sides are likely to cancel each other out at 24/10. However, Under 2.5 Goals at 13/20 is the safer way to go and the first leg on my bet slip.
Dinamo Minsk 13/20
Draw 49/20
Neman Grodno 9/2
(18:30)
Dinamo Minsk need to get back to winning ways after their trip to Gorodeya was fruitless but come into this clash as clear favourites after beating Neman Grodno in six of the last seven meetings. However, the visitors have been decent and are unbeaten in three games. Go against the betting and back the draw at 49/20, my value bet of the weekend.
Friday 17 April
Belshina 27/20
Draw 19/10
Smolevichi 22/10
(16:30)
Both newly-promoted opponents are struggling to compete in the top division after having only scored three goals between them in their first four games. Totals – Under 2.5 Goals looks a banker at 4/10, but my money is on the draw at 19/10.
Shakhter 7/20
Draw 36/10
Slutsk 15/2
(18:30)
Shakhter have only scored once this season in the 2-0 win over Gorodeya. They need to pull up their socks in order to improve on their third finish last season. The hosts ran out 5-0 winners in the last encounter with Slutsk. The visitors have been decent this season losing just once to reigning champions Dinamo Brest. However, the home win is tipped confidently.
Saturday 18 April
Rukh 31/20
Draw 21/10
Minsk 17/10
(13:00)
Rukh have not scored in three weeks and Minsk in two weeks. No goals equal no points and definitely not a good sign for newly-promoted Rukh in particular. Minsk will see this as an opportunity to claim maximum points. Instead of the away win though, I recommend backing First Team to Score – Minsk at 11/10.
Isloch 21/20
Draw 43/20
Slavia Mozyr 26/10
(15:00)
Isloch come off back-to-back defeats at the hands of Slutsk and Dinamo Brest after winning their first two games. Slavia Mozyr disappointingly drew goalless at home to Rukh after impressive wins over BATE and Dinamo Brest. Expect goals in this clash and take Totals – Over 2.5 Goals at 9/10.
Vitebsk 4/1
Draw 49/20
Dinamo Brest 7/10
(17:00)
Champions Dinamo Brest come into this clash as clear favourites because they’re unbeaten in seven meetings against Vitebsk, claiming six wins. The hosts will play only their second home game of the campaign following three straight games on the road. If you’re looking for an exotic market – Away Win to Nil at 14/10 to occur for the fourth consecutive meeting looks tasty, or back the visitors at 7/10 to play it safer.
BATE 9/20
Draw 31/10
Torpedo Zhodino 6/1
(19:00)
Torpedo Zhodino sit at the summit of the table with nine points but travel to perennial pace-setters BATE in the last match of the gameweek. The last five times these sides have met in the league has seen over 2.5 goals scored. A great bet would be taking BATE Win and Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 26/10, get on.
TREBLE @ 17/1
Minsk First Team to Score 11/10
Dinamo Brest – Away Win to Nil 14/10
BATE Win & BTTS (Yes) at 26/10
Written by Bryan Naicker