FC Minsk will be no pushovers for BATE Borisov
FC Minsk tasted defeat for the first time this season last weekend in their second Minsk derby in as many weeks. Can they bounce back against traditional heavyweights BATE? Have a read of our preview here:
Back down to earth for FC Minsk
FC Minsk enjoyed a very positive start to the Belarusian Premier League season when they beat First League champions Belishina on the opening weekend before downing rivals Dinamo Minsk 3-2 in a game that saw them leading 3-0 at half-time.
They could not reproduce that performance against another local rival, Energetik-BGU, also based in Minsk, last weekend, falling to a 2-0 defeat on the road.
It was their first loss of the campaign and also the first time they hadn’t scored, which is a big deal considering they had hit the net six times in their opening two games.
The defeat saw Energetik-BGU move to the top of the Premier League table having now won all three of their matches so far this season.
The arrival of BATE Borisov, a side well known to regular watchers of the Europa League, will act as a stern test of their metal.
BATE not at their best
BATE Borisov are the best-known side in Belarus thanks to many campaigns in the Europa League but they have not got themselves going so far this season.
They opened the campaign with back-to-back defeats but did manage to beat Ruh Brest last weekend thanks to a single goal from Stanislaw Drahun.
The experienced midfielder netted after just seven minutes to give his side their first three points of the season and the 66-time capped Belarusian international will have been delighted his side also kept their first clean-sheet this term.
BATE remain, however, far from convincing given their stature and will have to play better away to FC Minsk if they are to start a run of good form.
FC Minsk vs BATE Borisov betting tip
BATE have won the Premier League 15 times and come into this as heavy favourites to bag three points, but write off FC Minsk at your peril. They have produced some good football this season and are more than capable of matching a BATE side yet to get going. There is huge value in backing FC Minsk to win at odds of 100/30 with betway and that is exactly what we are going to do.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
It was a long shot to expect FC Minsk to keep up their good form as they succumbed to 3-0 defeat at the hands of BATE.