Many would have written off Energetyk-BGU’s chances of keeping the pace with the more illustrious names in the Belarus top flight such as BATE, Dinamo Brest and Slutsk but this is exactly what Energetyk have managed to do so far in this new Vysshaya Liga campaign as Sunday’s hosts sit in 2nd place and are just one point behind league leaders, BATE.
Energetyk have managed to collect seven wins out of their 10 matches to date this term and this has thrust them into the early limelight of this domestic top flight season, and having won their last four matches on the trot, Energetyk look to be in the box-seat to add to their points tally here.
Recent wins against Smolevichi, Slutsk, Dinamo Brest and Isloch Minsk have maintained Energetyk’s promising start to this new season, while the hosts have also made a solid start on home turf too as they’ve won three of their first four matches with victories over BATE, FC Minsk and Dinamo Brest.
Onto Vitebsk, and the visitors extended their unbeaten run in the Vysshaya Liga to three matches with a 1-1 draw at home with Dinamo Minsk last weekend which followed previous back-to-back stalemates against Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Belshina.
However, the fact remains that Vitebsk still haven’t managed a league win from their last five matches overall, an ordinary looking sequence of results which include earlier back-to-back defeats to Isloch Minsk and Slavia Mozyr.
After making a promising start to the new Belarus top flight campaign where Vitebsk picked up three wins out of their first five matches of the new season (with wins against Gorodeya, Smolevichi and Dinamo Brest), the wheels seem to have fallen off in recent weeks.
In addition, two of Vitebsk’s total of three wins so far this season have been registered on home turf at their Stadyen Central'ny Vitsyebski.
Their solitary win on the road this term was achieved at second from bottom outfit, Smolevichi, and having managed just one win out of their last seven matches on their travels, it looks like Vitebsk will have their work cut out against this confident and in-form Energetyk-BGU outfit.
Energetyk certainly have the momentum behind them and with home advantage, the hosts should collect the points here.