There are three games to look forward to in the Belarus Premier League on Sunday afternoon. One of which takes place at the Stadyen Central'ny Vitsyebski as FK Vitebsk welcome BATE Borisov. The hosts begin this round of fixtures in 11th place on 14 points while the visitors are top of the table with 25 points to their name.
FK Vitebsk come into the match having been held to a draw at Energetyk-BGU. It was a good point for FK Vitebsk against the team currently second in the table and a very entertaining game to watch. Having been 3-2 down at half time, FK Vitebsk found the equaliser in the 94th minute to take something from the game.
However, despite that being a good result, FK Vitebsk have failed to win any of their last 6 league matches. There have only been 2 defeats in those 6 matches and FK Vitebsk are undefeated in their last 4 games having drawn each of them. In addition to the point at Energetyk-BGU last weekend, FK Vitebsk have been held by Shakhtyor and Dinamo Minsk at home plus Belshina away.
Having started the season with 2 successive home wins, FK Vitebsk have failed to win in their last 3 attempts at the Stadyen Central'ny Vitsyebski. Nonetheless, they have managed to score at least one goal in all but one of their 5 home league games this season.
BATE come into the game in excellent form and recorded yet another victory last weekend as they defeated Isloch 1-0 at home. Their opponents made it difficult, even having had a man sent off in the 61st minute, but a penalty towards the end of the first half was enough for BATE to take maximum points.
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That result means BATE have won each of their last 8 games in all competitions, including the 1-0 when over Dinamo Brest in the cup final. Of the other victories, 6 have been in the league with wins coming at home against Neman Grodno, Slutsk and Isloch plus away at Gorodeya, Smolevichy-STI and Dinamo Brest.
Trends show BATE have lost only 4 of their last 35 matches in the Belarus Premier League and have won each of their last 4 away league matches by a margin of 2 or more goals.
Team news and FK Vitebsk will be relying on striker Ion Nicolăescu to score their goals. The Romanian has 5 goals this season with only one other player in their squad having scored more than a single goal this season.
BATE have been sharing the goals around their team. Nemanja Milić is their leading scorer with 5 goals but Stanislau Dragun and Pavel Nekhajchik both have 4 goals to their name and will be a goal threat.
There appears to be only one winner from this game and BATE are the clear favourites to take maximum points. BATE could win this match by at least 2 clear goals, with both teams scoring.