Belarus Premier League Matchday 30 Odds & Picks: BATE Borisov and Shakhter Soligorsk Looking to Win Title

• It’s Matchday 30 in the Belarus Premier League – the final day of the season – with games taking place on Saturday, November 28
• BATE are in pole position but lead Shakhter by only a single point
• We list the odds for all of this weekend’s games, offering our best picks in three

With one game to go, it’s BATE’s title to lose. With the top five all winning last week, it’s as-you-were at the top of the table with the trophy now just a two-way battle between BATE and Shakhter.

There’s also a two-way battle for the third relegation place, the one that requires a playoff with the third-placed team from the second division.

As of this writing, odds have only been released for three of this weekend’s matches which all kick off at 6:00 am EST Saturday morning.

Belarus Premier League Matchday 30 Odds

All odds taken Nov 27 at DraftKings.

Pick 1: Dinamo Minsk vs BATE Borisov

All eyes will be on Minsk on Saturday, with BATE knowing a win will confirm their 16th Premier League title. In fact, as long as they can match or better Shakhter’s result against FC Minsk the title is theirs. But it’s tight, with no room for slip-ups, and is complicated further by Shakhter having a slightly better goal difference. In order to avoid a nervy, twitchy afternoon, BATE will be hoping to win this with the minimum of fuss but soccer has a habit of throwing up odd results when it’s least expected.

BATE have wobbled a little with the finishing line in sight – two defeats and a draw in their last eight – but hit form at the weekend when it really mattered. Their 5-0 win over lowly Belshina, with the pressure gauge hitting 11, was the stuff of champions but their final hurdle – away to Dinamo Minsk – promises to be a tougher task.

Dinamo still has a small, mathematical chance of taking third place, but with Neman and Dinamo Brest – two of the teams above them – playing each other the chances are virtually nil. They will, however, want to end the season on a high and would like nothing more than to rain on BATE’s parade. In the latest form table, they are above BATE – six wins in their last eight – and also worth noting is that Minsk won the reverse fixture 2-0.  So, given the pressure of the occasion, there is, for me, value here in the draw,

Pick: Dinamo Minsk and BATE to draw (+250)

Pick 2: Shakhter Soligorsk vs FC Minsk

For Shakhter, the fate of the Premier League trophy is out of their hands but while they don’t have control of their own destiny, they will take heart from the fact they, on paper, have the easier task. While BATE are away to the team currently in fifth, they are at home to the team in tenth and whose season is effectively over.

Shakhter also has the league’s meanest defense to call upon – only 19 goals conceded in their 29 games – and, partly as a result, have a slightly better goal difference than BATE. They, like BATE, have wobbled a bit as the season has entered its final stages and have been unable to make the most of their title opponent’s slip-ups. If they do miss out on the title will look back on it as one that got away.

FC Minsk have had a slightly disappointing season with a record of 11-5-13 with just one to play. Their hope of improving upon their ninth place in 2019 has proved unfounded but they have at least managed to steer themselves well clear of the relegation scrap. When these two met in Minsk in early June it was a 1-1 draw but with the title still in their sights, it’s hard to see Shakhter slipping up. With their ultra-solid defense showing no sign of wilting, I can see them digging out what may just be a title-winning 1-0.

Pick: Shakhter to win 1-0 

Pick 3: Dinamo Brest vs Neman Grodno

While both of these teams have narrowly missed out on the title, both are in heart of the battle for third place, which brings with it a place in next season’s Europa League. Neman are in the box seat as things stand as they are currently in third but are tied with Torpedo Zhodino on points and only ahead by virtue of a better head-to-head record. They, in fact, have an inferior goal difference to Torpedo.

Dinamo Brest are two points behind Neman and Torpedo but know that a win here will automatically see them finish above Neman and, depending on other results, in with a chance of that Europa League spot. The stakes are massive but it’s a tough one to call.

Neman’s good run has been based on a solid defense – only Shakhtar have conceded fewer goals – but at the other end of the pitch, 40 goals in 29 games is a modest return. They’re kings of the 1-0 win, just as it was when these two played in June. Dinamo, the 2019 champions, have far more goals in their locker but are more vulnerable at the back. For me, the value is with Neman at +240 for the win.

Pick: Neman to win (+240)