Belarus Premier League Odds & Picks Matchday 9

• It’s Matchday 9 in the Belarus Premier League with games starting on Friday
• New leaders BATE entertain second-placed Slutsk in the game of the weekend
• We list the odds for all seven games and preview three, offering our best picks

Amidst the almost worldwide lockdown, the Belarus Premier League continues, albeit this Friday’s game between FC Minsk and Neman Grodno has been postponed due to a player showing symptoms of COVID-19.  But with still only a relatively small number of cases, the Belarus FA insists it’s business-as-usual and are now up to Matchday 9.

As always, we’ll list the odds for all of the weekend’s games and pick out three of the top games to preview and offer some picks.

Belarus Premier League Matchday 9 Odds

All odds taken May 14

Pick 1: BATE Borisov vs. Slutsksakhar Slutsk

BATE lost their first two games of the season but after a 5-3 win at Smolevichi last  Sunday they leapfrogged Slutsk to go top of the table.

Interestingly, despite Smolevichi being in the drop zone, it was a tough one for BATE, who saw a 3-1 lead eroded before claiming the three points with two late goals. They lead the table on goal difference and have now won five games in their last six. BATE has also reached the final of the Belarus Cup, so what started as a poor season has been turned around in spectacular fashion, and they now look capable of winning every game they play.

Slutsk lost their top spot at the weekend after a 2-1 home defeat by Energetyk, who ended the game with ten men. They will be hoping this isn’t the case of their bubble bursting but will need to improve on a defensive record that has seen them concede 11 goals – the most of any team in the top four.

But Slutsk away form has been good – they have won all of their three away league games – and although this is a big ask for them, with BATE in such good form, they went to the top of the table for a reason. There is no value here in the home win but Slutsk’s fine away form could see them through to a hard-fought draw.

Pick: BATE and Slutsk to draw (+481)

Pick 2: Energetyk-BDU vs Dinamo Brest

Energetyk host defending champions Dinamo Brest in a clash between fourth and sixth, with the Students currently enjoying a two-point advantage. A win for the champions though will see them leapfrog the hosts.

For Energetyk, it’s been an up-and-down season, with them winning their first three games, losing the next three, and then recovering to win the next two – not a draw in sight! But they come into this one off the back of a morale-boosting win away at then-leaders Slutsk.

Dinamo’s defense of their title hasn’t gone as planned and they still find themselves playing catch-up after picking up just four points from their first three games. But they have rallied well since and are back in title contention; their most recent outing earning them three points after defeating Dinamo Minsk 2-1 at home.

Brest also has some mightily impressive home form behind them and the fact they have lost only one of their last 19 away games means they start this one odds-one for the win. But, and it’s a big but, the Students have momentum and confidence, so there’s still value here in the home win.

My picks: Energetyk to win (+295)

Pick 3: Dinamo Minsk vs Isloch

Dinamo have lost their last two and their 2-1 defeat last Sunday by Dinamo Brest saw them drop to 13th. They need a win to pull themselves clear of the danger zone.

The visitors, Isloch, by contrast, have had an excellent first few weeks of the campaign and are in fifth,  just a single point off the top of the table. Worth noting though is that six of their eight games have been played at home, so this could be a false position. They have lost both of their away games during which they have scored once and conceded seven.

With Isloch wanting to arrest their poor run of away form and Dinamo grateful for any points they can get at the moment, the value here looks to be with the draw, potentially a high-scoring one.

My pick: Dinamo Minsk and Isloch to draw (+241)