Belarus Premier League Matchday 22 Odds & Picks

• Matchday 22 in the Belarus Premier League kicks off with games starting on Friday
• Leaders Shakhtar and second-placed BATE both won last time out, with three points separating them
• We list the odds for all eight games and preview three, offering our best picks

It’s been a tumultuous week in Belarus, but as things stand we approach Matchday 22 of their Premier League, with games kicking off on Friday. At the moment, its Shakhtar and BATE leading the way – just three points separating the pair – but Neman Grodno and Torpedo still remain in touch.

We’ll list all eight games, show the odds, preview three, and offer a pick for each.

Belarus Premier League Matchday 22 Odds

All odds taken Aug  20

Pick 1: Isloch vs Shakhtar Soligorsk

At the FC Minsk Stadium on Friday, Isloch entertain leaders Shakhtar, with the hosts looking for three points to help them close the gap on the top four. They come into this in good form after winning 3-2 away at Vitebsk on Matchday 21 – their third win on the bounce – and, as a result, have some momentum.

They are also unbeaten in their last three league games at home. But, while Isloch are currently a potent attacking force, ongoing defensive issues mean they have conceded in five of their last six games, conceding 10 in the process. This defensive resolve – or lack of it – will undergo its biggest test of the season on Friday.

Shakhtar comes into this off the back of a 1-0 win over Dynamo Brest – a victory that maintained their three-point gap at the top – and from a defensive perspective, they are the polar opposite of Isloch, conceding just nine goals all season and two in their last six. While +490 for the home win looks tempting, it’s hard to see the Isloch defense being anything like good enough to keep the leaders at bay.

Pick: Shakhtar to win 2-0 (+700)

Pick 2: Neman Grodno vs BATE Borisov

It’s third against second in the Neman Stadium as Grodno meet BATE, with both looking for the win to keep the pressure on Shakhtar. For the home team, it’s also a chance to regain some momentum that has taken a bit of a hit of late – three draws in their last five – but overall they are unbeaten in 12. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Energetik but well worth noting is that they are unbeaten in their last six home league matches. In their last six games – home and away – they have conceded just a single goal.

BATE go into this clash after a 1-0 win over lowly Gorodeya and look in decent shape despite Shakhtar putting the squeeze on. Their defeat, two games ago, by Torpedo looks costly as things stand but they’re the league’s top scorers for a reason and have hit 13 in their last six matches. In that time they have conceded just five, so this is a huge test for Neman in the big clash of the weekend.

With BATE odds-on, the value here is very much with the Neman win, a result of which they are capable, particularly given their defensive solidity of late.

Pick: Neman to win (+250)

Pick 3: Slavia Mozyr vs Vitebsk

At Yunost Stadium on Sunday, Slavia takes on Vitebsk, with both teams needing a win to edge closer to the top half of the table. Last time out Slavia lost 4-2 at home to Isloch, so they will be keen to not lose twice on the bounce at home, but they are undoubtedly the ‘entertainers’ of the league at the moment with no less than 26 goals going in both nets in their last six games!

Vitebsk’s last outing was also a defeat by Isloch (3-2) but they are six points better off than Slavia in the table and know a win could take them into the top eight. They’re not big goalscorers though – they average only just over one goal per game – and have not won away from home in the league for three matches. This one will be close, but the value is with the home win.

Pick: Slavia to win (+220)