BATE Borisov will be looking to continue their impressive run of form when they travel to Smolevichi in the Belarusian Premier League on Sunday.
Kirill Alshevsky's side have won four of their last five in the league, remaining unbeaten in the process, to move into third, while Smolevichi occupy 15th spot with just three points to show from their seven matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
Facing a revitalised BATE outfit is not quite what Smolevichi would have had in mind as they attempt to put their first league victory of the campaign on the board. Indeed, it has been a tough start for Aleksandr Brazevich's side, who currently sit second from bottom in the table.
Smolevichi have drawn three and lost four of their seven matches this season, scoring just three times in the process, which is the joint-worst record in the division.
They only made their Belarusian Premier League debut in 2018 but were relegated straight back to the second tier before returning for the current season. It does appear that it will be another difficult campaign for the club, though, as they continue to search for their first victory.
Smolevichi picked up back-to-back draws against Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Belshina in the middle of April but have lost their last two to Dinamo Minsk and Energetik-BGU, conceding five times in the process.
BATE, meanwhile, made a poor start to their 2020 league campaign, suffering successive defeats to Energetik and Slavia to leave themselves playing catch-up at a very early stage.
The 15-time Belarusian Premier League winners have been victorious in four of their last five in the league, though, including a 3-1 success over Neman last weekend.
Alshevsky's side have also progressed to the final of the Belarusian Cup by overcoming Slavia in the semi-finals and will take on Dinamo Brest towards the end of this month.
BATE had actually landed 13 straight titles before finishing second to Dynamo Brest last season; they collected 70 points from their 30 league games last term but ended five points off the summit.
The Vysheyshaya Liga outfit are also the only Belarusian side to have qualified for the group stage of the Champions League, which was the case in 2008-09, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2015-16, which is an indication of their pedigree on home soil.
Smolevichi form (Belarusian Premier League): LLDDLL
BATE form (Belarusian Premier League): LWWDWW
Head To Head
Sunday's clash will be just the third meeting between the two teams in history. Both of their previous encounters have been won by BATE, including a 3-2 success in their last meeting in July 2018.
BATE also ran out 1-0 winners in front of their own supporters in their first match in April 2018.
We say: Smolevichi 0-2 BATE
BATE will be the huge favourites entering Sunday's clash, and we are finding it difficult to predict an upset in this match. Smolevichi look set to be in for a tough season, but BATE appear to have recovered from a poor start. The visitors should have too much for their opponents in this weekend's contest.
Matt Law
