Two teams in growing need of a victory face off at the Stadyen Haradski on Friday night as Energetik-BGU host Smolevichi in the Belarusian Premier League.
Energetik began the campaign in fine fashion but have tailed off dramatically in recent weeks, while newly-promoted Smolevichi sit second from bottom and are still searching for their first win of the season.
Match preview
© Reuters
Amid all the controversy regarding the Belarusian season actually taking place during a global pandemic, Energetik-BGU were still able to start the campaign in fine fashion.
Vladimir Belyavski's side won all of their opening three games to storm to the top of the table, but the third of those - a victory over FC Minsk at the beginning of April - was the last time they picked up any points.
Energetik have since lost three successive matches without scoring a single goal, being beaten by Torpedo-BelAZ, Gorodeya and Neman to slump down to seventh place.
The Gorodeya defeat ended a six-game unbeaten streak at home which included five wins and stretched back to September, but they will see Friday night's match as a good opportunity to get back to winning ways in front of their own fans.
Smolevichi have so far struggled to adapt to life back in the top flight, failing to win any of their six outings so far to remain one of only two winless teams in the league.
The gap to safety is already four points, which is by no means unassailable but is a worrying deficit after only six games of the campaign, while their struggles in front of goal will also be a concern.
Only one team has a worse attacking record during these embryonic stages of the campaign, while only one of their three goals so far has been scored by a member of their team from open play - they have also had one penalty and one own goal go their way.
Even the own goal was merely a consolation last time out as Dinamo Minsk cruised to a 3-1 victory, leaving Aleksandr Brazevich's side with a record of three draws and three defeats so far.
Two of Smolevichi's three points - as well as two of their three goals - have actually come away from home, although they are now winless in their last seven top-flight matches on the road, a run which stretches back to September 2018.
Energetik Premier League form: WWWLLL
Smolevichi Premier League form: DLLDDL
Head To Head
The last four meetings between these two sides have ended in a 1-0 scoreline, and it is Smolevichi who have fared the better during that time.
Friday's visitors have won each of the last three contests - most recently in September 2017 - since Energetik came out on top by a solitary goal at home in 2016.
We say: Energetik 0-0 Smolevichi
Neither of these two sides are in good form and both have been struggling for goals lately, so this could be a low-scoring affair. Smolevichi will be desperate to get that first win under their belt, but they may be forced to wait a little while longer.
Barney Corkhill
