Prediction and odds for the game: Shakhter Soligorsk (2/5) v Slutsk (7/1)
We are backing the home win
When: Friday 17th April 2020, Kick-off 5:30
Where: The Stadyen Budaunik
On Friday evening, Shakhter Soligorsk host FK Slutsk in the Belarus Premier League, as the home team looks to get their campaign back on track.
Shakhter Soligorsk
The home side has enjoyed a mixed start to their league campaign, picking up five points from their opening four league matches. Shakhter are three games unbeaten in the top-flight after a goalless draw with struggling Smolevichi last time out. It was their second straight 0-0 draw in the Belarus Premier League.
Their recent league games dating back to last season have been low-scoring, as their last six matches in the Premier League have produced under 2.5 goals. Three straight clean sheets in the league have been a big factor in the low-scoring encounters.
Shakhter have failed to win their last two home games in the Belarus Premier League. However, they were previously unbeaten in 12 home matches before suffering a 1-0 defeat against Torpedo Zhodino on the opening weekend of the campaign. Their recent home matches have been uncharacteristically low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in their last three matches on home soil.
The home side have a good recent record against Slutsk, as they have won seven of the last nine meetings with the visitors while suffering just defeat in the process.
Slutsk
The visitors have made a decent start to the new league season, picking up seven points from a possible 12 in the new campaign. Their early season form has taken them to third place in the table. Last time out, they drew 1-1 against Vitebsk, which means they have suffered just one defeat in seven league games dating back to last season. Their recent league outings have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in four of their last six matches.
It seems that Slutsk have turned the corner when it comes to away form, as they have won their last two away games in the league, winning one game this season and one last season. Their recent away games have been relatively high-scoring with at least two goals scored in five of their last matches.
Slutsk have a poor recent record playing at Shakhter, as they have won on just one of their last eight visitors to the hosts. They have also kept just two clean sheets in those respective games.
Conclusion
Neither of these teams has shown great consistency this season so far. The fact that just two points separate the third-place visitors from the 11th place hosts says a lot about the congested nature of the middle of the Premier League table. We are backing the home side to just edge this game, but we expected it to be a relatively narrow win in a low-scoring encounter.
Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 2/5 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/5. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Can Shakhter continue their recent good record against Slutsk?
