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Belarusian Premier League | Gameweek 8

May 9, 2020 at 3pm UK

Neman Stadium

Neman
2 - 4
Rukh Brest

Kadimyan (68', 90+1')
Leshko (69'), Legchilin (87')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Vassiljev (4'), Grechiho (14'), Sedko (55' pen.), Andronic (89')
Gayduchik (35'), Vassiljev (51'), Andronic (82')

Preview: Neman vs. Rukh Brest - predictions, form guides, head-to-head record

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 07 May 2020

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Vysheyshaya Liga clash between Neman and Rukh Brest, including predictions, form guides and head-to-head records.

Neman will be aiming to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat against 15-time Vysheyshaya Liga champions BATE Borisov as they prepare to welcome Rukh Brest to the Stadyen Nyoman on Saturday.

The two sides are only separated by one point in the Belarusian Premier League table heading into the clash, with Rukh drawing their second game on the bounce against Gorodeya last time out.

Match preview

Neman's Andrei Vasilyev in action with Belshina's Yevgeni Skoblikov on April 10, 2020 © Reuters

Compared to the two teams below them in the table, Igor Kovalevich's men have not performed all that badly during the early stages of the campaign, but the Neman faithful would no doubt have hoped for a much stronger start from their side.

Neman enjoyed an impressive 3-0 victory over high-flying Energetik-BGU prior to last weekend's defeat, but BATE's comfortable victory means that Kovalevich is yet to witness his side pick up three points on the road this season.

However, home is where the heart is for Neman as they have won four out of their last six fixtures in front of their own fans, recording two victories and one draw at the Stadyen Nyoman thus far.

As is the case with Rukh, Neman have scored and conceded an equal number of goals this season, with Armenian midfielder Gegham Kadymyan notching up four of Neman's seven strikes this season.

The 27-year-old has found the net in three of Neman's last four outings, but Kadymyan may struggle to add to his tally against a Rukh side renowned for their low-scoring affairs.

Rukh, who currently sit 12th in the Belarusian Premier League table, are the only other side in the top flight with a goal difference of zero after seven matches.

While Neman have scored and shipped seven goals this season, Rukh have only managed to strike on three occasions, but their record of three goals conceded is the best in the league alongside Shakhtyor Soligorsk.

Aleksandr Sednyov witnessed his side share the spoils against Gorodeya last weekend, as a 1-1 draw marked the first time this season that more than one goal has been scored in a game involving Rukh.

There are signs of positivity for Sednyov heading into the fixture, though, as Rukh have amassed a four-game unbeaten run in the Belarusian top flight, a feat which only the top three sides can also boast.

However, Rukh have failed to score on their travels since their opening-day victory over Dinamo Minsk, although their last three fixtures on the road have come against teams in the top half of the table.

Neman Vysheyshaya Liga form: WDDLWL

Rukh Vysheyshaya Liga form: LLDWDD

Head To Head

Due to Rukh's status as a newly-promoted club, Saturday's clash will be the inaugural meeting between the two sides.

That being said, Neman manager Kovalevich has faced off against Rukh's Sednyov 12 times in the past, with Kovalevich getting the better of the Rukh coach six times compared to Sednyov's four.

Sednyov has come up against Neman 23 times in his managerial career, but he has only ever triumphed once against Kovalevich's side, a 3-1 victory for his former side Belshina in 2015.

We say: Neman 2-1 Rukh

It has been a somewhat underwhelming start for both sides during the 2019-20 campaign, but Neman have the home advantage against a Rukh team struggling for goals, so we are backing Kovalevich's men to get back to winning ways on Saturday.