After an encouraging end to their pre-season preparations which saw the hosts win 3 on the trot, Gorodeya would have been in confident mood prior to last weekend’s season-opener away from home at Vitebsk, but they left empty-handed and face a tough clash this Saturday against Shakhtyor Soligorsk, despite holding home advantage at their Stadion Gorodeya.
Recent wins against Arsenal, Naftan and Neman Grodno offered Gorodeya early promise for the start of this new Belarus top flight campaign but defeat on the opening day will likely see a nervous home outfit here especially as they’ve now lost their last 3 league matches on the trot.
Back-to-back defeats at the end of last campaign to relegated Gomel 3-2 at home followed by a 1-0 loss away from home at Saturday’s opponents, Shakhtyor, ended Gorodeya’s season on a low note and defeat to Vitebsk at the start of this new campaign wasn’t ideal and they’ll need to be careful not to let the early rot set in here too.
Visitors, Shakhtyor Soligorsk, by contrast enjoyed a successful season last term as they finished in 3rd spot and just 5 points behind runners-up BATE.
АБФФ сообщила об изменении времени начала некоторых матчей второго тура.Встреча #ГородеяШахтер начнётся на полчаса позже - в 19:00. pic.twitter.com/b9S03AvNfx— ФК Шахтер Солигорск (@fcshakhterby) March 24, 2020
АБФФ сообщила об изменении времени начала некоторых матчей второго тура.Встреча #ГородеяШахтер начнётся на полчаса позже - в 19:00. pic.twitter.com/b9S03AvNfx
So no doubt, Shakhtyor will be looking to continue this momentum into the early stages of this new Vysshaya Liga campaign with a win against Gorodeya.
Shakhtyor Soligorsk lost just 4 away matches throughout last season’s Vysshaya Liga campaign on the road and have also never suffered defeat against Saturday’s hosts, Gorodeya, in any of their previous 9 encounters.
In addition, Shakhtyor have registered 7 wins from these last 9 exchanges against Gorodeya so they’ll be confident that they can not only bounce back from last week’s 1-0 loss to Torpedo Zhodino but also extend their domination over Gorodeya too.
Having won 7 of the last 9 encounters between these two sides, Shakhtyor look the more likely for the three points in this one, particularly as the visitors have kept clean sheets in each of the last 6 encounters on the trot against Gorodeya.
Indeed, Shakhtyor Soligorsk’s solid defensive unit earned them the joint best defensive record away from home in last season’s Vysshaya Liga along with title winners, Dinamo Brest, and their solidity at the back could once again be the difference between these two sides when they meet on Saturday afternoon.