BATE Borisov vs Slavia Mozyr Predictions

• BATE Borisov haven’t lost at home to Slavia Mozyr since 2000.
• Slavia scored in eight of their last nine matches.
• BATE registered in 16 of their last 18 home games.

BATE have deficit to overturn

BATE Borisov must overturn a slender one goal deficit at home to Slavia Mozyr on Wednesday to book their place in next month’s Belarus Cup Final, though the visitors have already shown their mettle against their more illustrious hosts this season.

BATE and Slavia have already gone toe-to-toe twice since the end of March, and on each occasion Mozyr emerged as victors.

The sides first clashed on 28 March in a Belorussian Premier League contest at the Stadyen Junatsva Mozyr, where Slavia turned BATE over 2-1 thanks to a Nikita Melnikov brace, and in their subsequent semi final first leg clash in 8 April, Yuiry Pantea’s solitary strike was enough to hand the hosts a win at the same venue.

Those back-to-back wins would have galvanised confidence in the Slavia ranks and manager Mihail Martsinovich will believe that he can lead the club to their first Belarus Cup final since their triumph back in 2000.

Remarkably, the year 2000 was also the last time Slavia managed to beat BATE on their own patch however. The Zholto-Sinie haven’t lost at home to Mozyr in their last 12 meetings at the Borisov Arena, though Slavia don’t have to win on Wednesday to secure their cup final berth.

An away goal would do wonders for their chances of progression, and we’re backing Slavia to register what could be a tie defining strike in mid-week.

Goals at both ends likely

Mozyr failed to score just once in nine competitive games since the start of the new campaign, and having proven their final third potency against BATE twice inside the last four weeks, we think Slavia can breach the Borisov defences again on Wednesday.

Keeping BATE out at the other end should prove tricky however. The hosts scored at least once in 16 of their last 18 home games, and have the quality at the top end to cause most Belorussian teams problems.

With both attacks on show looking sharp, goals at either end on Wednesday seem likely and that in turn makes the both teams to score a market well worth considering for the second leg.

In terms of a correct score prediction, factoring in BATE’s exemplary home record against Slavia is a sensible play, and we’re tipping Borisov to eke out what could prove to be a bittersweet win this week.

Mozyr shipped two or fewer goals in five of their last six however, and should be able to limit the home side to a 2-1 victory, booking their place in the Cup Final in the process.