After a shaky and disappointing start to the new Belarus top flight campaign having suffered two defeats on the trot, Saturday’s hosts, Gorodeya, have since recovered in style by winning their last three league matches on the trot in the Vysshaya Liga.
Early back-to-back defeats against Vitebsk and Shakhtyor Soligorsk set Gorodeya back initially, but the hosts have since bounced back by recording wins against Belshina, Dinamo Minsk and Energetyk-BGU, all by 1-0 scorelines.
On Saturday though, Gorodeya will face perhaps their biggest test yet despite holding home advantage at their Stadyen Haradzeya as they prepare for the visit of last season’s runners-up in the Vysshaya Liga, BATE.
However, Gorodeya may just fancy their chances here as BATE have been far from convincing in the early stages of this new Belarus top flight season, while the hosts have managed to score in 13 of their last 17 matches on home turf.
In addition, Gorodeya have the ability to keep the scores close at home as well as the hosts have lost by a 2-goal margin in just 3 of these 17 home matches too.
BATE were held to a 0-0 draw at home by joint-leaders, Torpedo Zhodino, in last weekend’s action in the Vysshaya Liga but although they failed in their bid to make it three wins on the trot, BATE nevertheless extended their unbeaten run to three matches.
The visitors had also suffered back-to-back defeats at the start of this new Belarus campaign having been handed defeats by Energetyk-BGU and Slavia Mozyr in 3-1 and 2-1 losses respectively, and both away from home.
BATE have also staged a recovery in their subsequent matches in the Vysshaya Liga as the visitors have posted recent wins against Rukh Brest and FC Minsk, along with the aforementioned point picked up at home in their 0-0 stalemate with Torpedo Zhodino.
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Having lost just 2 of their last 10 matches away from home, BATE still represent a serious threat to Gorodeya, especially as they’ve hit the back of the net in each of these last 10 matches on their travels as well.
However, BATE will also be facing tough opposition in the shape of Gorodeya at the Stadyen Haradzeya as the hosts are unbeaten in their last four meetings at home against BATE, and 4 of the last 6 meetings have also seen both teams score.