This upcoming fixture between Smolevichi and Gorodeya could be described as a potential relegation dress-rehearsal as second from bottom outfit, Smolevichi, play host to third from bottom Gorodeya, at the Stadyen FLC Oktyabrsky with both teams desperate to pick up the all-important three points here.
Smolevichi have had to endure a difficult season so far in the Belarus top flight and this is evident by looking at their current league position as they already find themselves eight points adrift of safety and Friday’s opponents, Gorodeya.
Friday’s hosts have still yet to register their first win of the season in the Vysshaya Liga and they head into this crucial basement clash having lost four of their last five matches overall.
Recent defeats to Dinamo Minsk, Energetyk-BGU and BATE have all been dealt on home turf while a 2-1 defeat away from home at Torpedo Zhodino last weekend will have done little for their already fragile confidence.
Smolevichi have lost four of their five home matches to date this term, while the bigger picture shows that the hosts have failed to win any of their last 10 matches at home.
Gorodeya haven’t fared much better in recent times as the visitors are without a league win from their last six matches overall but they do hold an important eight-point cushion above their hosts and will be looking to rekindle some of their earlier form here.
The visitors had previously strung together a three-match winning streak which included wins against Belshina, Dinamo Minsk and Energetyk-BGU and it’s been this flurry of victories that have prevented Gorodeya from dropping down into the relegation zone so far.
Results away from home have produced mixed returns so far this season for Gorodeya who won won twice, drawn twice and lost twice, but this perhaps indicates that the visitors may be the more likely out of thee two teams to walk away with the points in this encounter.
Gorodeya’s two victories on the road to date this term were captured at bottom club, Belshina, and high-flying dark horses, Energetyuk-BGU, both by 1-0 margins, and these will give Gorodeya belief that they can achieve a similar result at Smolevichi on Friday night.
Smolevichi seem to be stuck in a rut while Gorodeya have produced a few good results to date and the visitors could nick the points here.