Belshina Bobruisk vs Smolevichi Predictions

• Smolevichi have lost just two of their 17 competitive away games since the start of last season.
• Belshina are yet to pick up a Belarus Premier League victory since their promotion.
• Belshina and Smolevichi have scored only three goals between them in the top flight this season.
• The hosts have failed to score in two of their four games, while Smolevichi have been shut out three times.

Winless Belshina struggle to adapt

Belshina Bobruisk’s relegation back in 2016 marked the end of a seven year stint in the top flight but, after a fantastic second tier campaign last year, they find themselves back in the Belarus Premier League once again.

It was never going to be easy for them to adapt, but even by those standards it’s been a miserable start for Belshina. They opened the campaign with a trio of consecutive defeats to Minsk, Torpedo Zhodino and Gorodeya before finally getting off the mark with a 1-1 draw at Neman Grodno last weekend.

The optimism around Stadyen Spartak from when they took a seventh minute lead in their season opener has all but vanished now, and that strike marks the last time the bottom-dwelling Belshina took the lead in a match.

Results don’t tell the full story for Smolevichi

Smolevichi finished four points behind Belshina to clinch promotion to the Premier League for the second time in their history last season – a feat made all the more impressive by the fact the club was only formed in 2009.

Unsurprisingly, the visitors have also found it tough going in the top flight, but they do have more recent experience than their opponents. While also winless, they have managed to pick up one more point than their floundering hosts.

In fact, Smolevichi’s start is more impressive than it first appears. Their two points have come courtesy of draws away to reigning champions Dinamo Brest and at home to perennial top three finishers Shakhtyor, and they are yet to concede more than one goal in a single game.

Visitors set to increase points tally

Smolevichi can take heart from this, and they can also look back on a draw and a win against Belshina in last season’s First League meetings. The visitors have only lost two of their 17 competitive away games since the start of last season so, considering Belshina have lost both home games this season, backing a Smolevichi win or draw double chance looks excellent value.

It’s likely to be another bore draw at Stadyen Spartak, though. Belshina and Smolevichi have scored just three goals between them this season and have failed to find the net in five of their combined eight matches, so a goalless draw looks the most likely outcome.