Belarus Premier League Odds & Picks Matchday 3: Energetik & FC Minsk in Top of Table Clash

• The Belarus Premier League is the only top-level soccer being played in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic
• It’s Matchday 3 with FC Minsk, Energetic-BGU, Isloch and Torpedo all still on maximum points
• Odds, previews, and picks of three top games below

While the coronavirus outbreak has decimated sport across the globe, life in the eastern European state of Belarus has, through the choice of their government, remained largely unaffected. So much so, they are now heading into week three of the new Belarus Premier League season with their stadiums still open to spectators.

So for those who like a soccer bet, there are still some good opportunities. We’ll take a look and see if we can find some value.

Belarus Premier League Matchday 3 Odds

All odds taken April 2.

Pick 1: Energetik-BGU vs FC Minsk

The season may be only two games old but already this is a top versus second clash in Minsk. Both teams have started the season in scintillating form with two wins from two and know a win will leave them top, or at least joint top, of the table.

Energetik’s season got off to a flyer with a fine 3-1 home win over highly-fancied BATE – Yaxhiboev scoring twice – and they followed it up with a 1-0 away win at Ruh Brest, Miroshnicov with the goal. Minsk also kicked off with a 3-1 win – away to Belshina – and followed it with a 3-2 win in a city derby against Dinamo Minsk; a game in which they went into a 3-0 lead before conceding twice.

With 13 goals scored in the last two meetings between these two, it looks highly likely there will be goals again. Both are full of attacking intent but it could just be Energetik’s better defense that sees the Students through to a narrow win.

Pick: Energetik to win (+203)

Pick 2: Isloch vs Slutsksakhar Slutsk

Another top-level clash takes place in Minsk on Sunday when third-placed Isloch play sixth-placed Slutsk; both teams getting their respective season’s off to flying starts in the opening fortnight.

Yansane scored an 88th-minute worldie in Isloch’s opener against Neman Grodno to give them a narrow 1-0 win and a week later they were at again, with another narrow 1-0 – this time at home to Shakhtar – with Yansane again the scorer. Slutsk meanwhile started the season well with a 1-0 home win over Slavia but were unable to follow it up against champions Dinamo Brest, against whom they lost 1-0.

So, while Isloch will be hoping to make it three wins on the spin, Slutsk will be keen to not lose two in a row and will have a cautious, maybe even defensive, mindset. I can see them earning a point here in a low-scoring draw.

Pick: Isloch and Slutsk to draw (+257)

Pick 3: Dinamo Minsk vs Torpedo BelAZ

Torpedo are the only other team in the league on maximum points and will fancy their chances here against Dinamo who are currently one of four point-less teams.

For the Minsk team, it’s been a disastrous start to the season, one they began with high hopes, and a 1-0 home defeat to Ruh Brest on opening day was made doubly damaging a week later when they lost 3-2 in the derby with FC Minsk. Two errors from keeper Maksim Plotnikov contributed to Dinamo going in at half-time 3-0 down and, despite a spirited second-half comeback, they lost the game 3-2.

Torpedo’s progress has been much more straightforward so far, with a 1-0 away victory at Shakhtar followed, one week later, by a home win by the same scoreline over Belshina. In both games, it was their ultra-solid defense that saw them earn the three points.

So, again, let’s not expect a goal-fest but this does promise to be a very close one. Dinamo desperately needs to get their season up and running and have a squad capable of getting some wins if they can stop conceding soft goals. I have a feeling this could be the day and, while Torpedo will be full of confidence, I envisage a narrow win for Dinamo.

Pick: Dinamo to win (+114)