Sunday afternoon’s clash sees Vitebsk taking on newcomers, Smolevichi, at their Stadyen Central'ny Vitsyebski where the hosts will be looking to register back-to-back home wins in the Vysshaya Liga.
After recording a 1-0 home win over Gorodeya to get their Belarus top flight campaign off to a winning start, Vitebsk have seemingly reverted to type as they went down to a 2-0 defeat away from home at Neman Grodno on Sunday which became Vitebsk’s fifth league defeat in six matches.
Vitebsk avoided being dragged down into the relegation play-off spot by the skin of their teeth at the end of last season as they finished just 1 point above third from bottom club, Dnyapro, who were eventually relegated, but they’ll be hopeful that they can see off the newcomers, Smolevichi, in this upcoming clash on Sunday.
Although recent results at home have produced mixed returns with wins against Isloch Minsk and Gorodeya, as well as defeats to BATE and Slavia Mozyr, Vitebsk recorded a resounding 4-0 victory over Smolevichi in their last league meeting which was back in September 2018.
Onto Smolevichi, and the newly-promoted visitors from last season’s 1.Division have found life back in the Belarus top flight tough going so far as they look to navigate a sequence of three away matches on the trot to start this new season in the Vysshaya Liga.
Although they earned a solid point in their opening match of this new season by holding the current title holders, Dinamo Brest, to a 1-1 draw away from home, Smolevichi were unable to build upon their encouraging start to this new campaign last weekend when they were handed a 1-0 defeat away from home at Isloch Minsk.
Another road trip beckons this Sunday when they make their way to Vitebsk, and having failed to win any of their last 10 matches overall in the domestic top flight, the omens don’t look too favourable for Smolevichi here.
Throw in the fact that Smolevichi have also failed to win any of their last 6 matches away from home and have managed just 1 away win from their last 10 on their travels, the visitors look to have their work cut out ahead of this encounter.
Vitebsk should at least avoid defeat at home here but it remains to be seen whether the hosts can grab all three points and this clash could end up all square.