Preview: Slutsk vs. Belshina - prediction, form guide, head-to-head record

Slutsk, who led the Belarusian Premier League entering matchday six, will be looking to continue their positive start to the season when they host struggling Belshina on Sunday afternoon.

The home side have taken 10 points from their opening five matches, while Belshina are winless in their first five fixtures, sitting bottom of the division with just two points to show for their efforts.

Match preview

The Belarusian Premier League has been allowed to continue despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and there are currently no signs that the campaign will be called to a halt despite the fact that the majority of football across the world has been stopped due to the outbreak.

Slutsk have seemingly not been distracted by matters off the field as they have picked up 10 points from their five matches, which as mentioned, was enough for top spot heading into week six.

Vitaliy Pavlov's side opened their league season with a 3-1 win over Slavia before suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Dinamo Brest at the end of March. They are unbeaten since then, though, overcoming Isloch and Shakhtyor, in addition to sharing the points at home to Vitebsk.

Slutsk finished 11th in the Belarusian Premier League last term, following on from positions of seventh and eighth in their two previous seasons at this level of football.

It would be a surprise if they managed to launch a title challenge during the current campaign, although another positive result this weekend would leave the supporters dreaming of a successful year.

Belshina, meanwhile, have had a difficult start to the season, picking up just two points from their five matches thus far to sit bottom of the table.

Eduard Gradoboyev's side started their campaign with a 3-1 defeat at home to Minsk before losing their next two - both 1-0 - away to Torpedo BelAZ and at home to Gorodeya.

They are unbeaten in their last two league fixtures, though, drawing with Neman Grodno and Smolevichy-STI to at least put some points on the board ahead of Sunday's clash.

Belshina won the second tier last season to earn promotion back to this level, but it does appear that they will be in for a difficult time. Indeed, the Bobruisk-based outfit only won five league games during their 2016 campaign and are yet to get off the mark this time around.

Slutsk form (Belarusian Premier League): WLWDW

Belshina form (Belarusian Premier League): LLLDD

Head To Head

Slutsk have won four of the last eight meetings between the two teams, with Belshina claiming two victories and the further two matches ending in a share of the spoils.

The pair have not actually locked horns since playing out a goalless draw in November 2016 and two of their last three matches in the top tier have finished level.

Slutsk recorded a 2-1 victory in June 2016, but Belshina enjoyed success in this fixture in May 2015 when they ran out 2-0 winners in front of their own supporters.

We say: Slutsk 2-0 Belshina

Slutsk have impressed in the early stages of the campaign, but it has been a tough start for Belshina, who are rooted to the bottom of the table. Belshina did manage to pick up a point away to Slutsk back in 2015; we fancy the hosts to triumph on Sunday, though, and have backed a two-goal success.