Belarus Premier League Matchday 23 Odds & Picks

• Matchday 23 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

Tensions are still running high in Belarus following the recent election but we approach Matchday 23 of their Premier League, with games kicking off on Friday. As things stand, Shakhtar and BATE are tied at the top of the table but Neman Grodno still remains in touch.

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

Belarus Premier League Matchday 23 Odds

All odds taken Sept 9

Pick 1: Torpedo BelAZ vs Slavia Mozyr

It’s fifth versus 11th in Zhodzina, with Torpedo looking for a win to keep up their challenge on Shakhtar and BATE, while at the same time staying in touch with the two teams above them – Neman and Isloch.

While Torpedo are also still in touch with those at the top – albeit the eight-point gap between them and the joint-leaders means their title challenge is over – their big failing over the season has been turning draws into wins. A 9-8-5 record portrays a season that could have been so much better if they had been able to be more ruthless, but which has seen them only lose five times. A form guide of three draws and two wins in their last five tells the story.

Slavia, with a 6-6-8 record, are too close to the drop zone for comfort. While they look to be safe, a top-half finish also looks a way off, and a poor defense that has conceded 37 goals – the third-worst in the league – has been a constant problem. For this reason alone, the value here – even at odds-on – has to be with the home win.

Pick: Torpedo to win (-140)

Pick 2: Ruh Brest vs Neman Grodno

Neman’s visit to Brest has plenty riding on it, with the visitors still looking to keep the pressure on Shakhtar and BATE despite losing their last two. A fine unbeaten run had looked like taking Neman into the Champions League places but consecutive losses to BATE and FC Minsk have seen them drop out of the title reckoning. For them, this one has become a must-win.

Ruh Brest have flattered to deceive over the course of the season, with mini-runs that took to the edge of the battle for European places being halted by some disappointing losses. Defensively they have been fairly solid throughout – 24 goals conceded in their 22 games – and they are also the league’s joint third-highest goalscorer, but all too often they have dropped silly points that could have taken them into the top six.

But Ruh comes into this one off the back of a four-game unbeaten run and with Neman on something of a downward curve, the value here is very much with the home win.

Pick: Ruh Brest to win (+240)

Pick 3: Shakhtar Soligorsk vs Vitebsk

Joint-leaders Shakhtar are in must-win territory here against ninth-placed Vitebsk. After opening up a three-point lead over BATE following a run of three consecutive wins, they blew the chance of maintaining that lead when were beaten 4-2 by Isloch last time out. Shakhtar’s successful season has been based on an outstanding defense – the best in the league – and to have conceded just 13 goals in 22 games is simply outstanding. Over the course of the campaign, they have lost just three games.

For Vitebsk, it has been a ‘nearly’ season, with some good results being followed by some disappointing ones, especially against those in the top half. Goals have been a problem, with only 23 scored (and conceded) in their 22 games, and so don’t expect this one to be a goal-fest. But, given how much it means to Shakhtar, it’s hard to bet against them although at -240 there’s little value in the straight home win. There is, however, some value in the 1-0 to Shakhtar.

Pick: Shakhtar to win 1-0 (+500)