FC Smolevichi vs Dinamo Minsk: Predictions and Betting Odds

FC Smolevichi certainly isn’t afraid to play out of the back, but they’ve been rather ineffective going forward. With the attacking talent of Dinamo Minsk, FC Smolevichi will likely be playing on the back foot all match long.

WSN Pick’s: FC Smolevichi 0-2 Dinamo Minsk.

The odds for FC Smolevichi vs Dinamo Minsk are provided by BetRivers, DraftKings Sportsbook, and 888Sport NJ.

Where: Stadyen Haradski, Barysaw (Borisov)

When: Friday, 24 April 2020, 11:00 AM EST

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FC Smolevichi

Manager

Aleksandr Brazevich {Current: 0-3-2 (15th in Vysheyshaya Liga) | Top Scorer: Evgeni Barsukov (1) | Form: DDLL}

Expected Starting XI

(GK) #12 A. Gomaleko – (DEF) #5 E. Zhevnerov, #4 A. Bondarenko, #17 I. Rashchenya, #99 M. Alibekov, #24 A. Vakulich – (MID) #10 I. Veras, #49 A. Dzhigero, #22 A. Butarevich – (FWD) #8 E. Barsukov, #97 J. Poé

While FC Smolevichi will be the home side in this upcoming match, their recent form fails to suggest it will be an exciting outing for them. Since their promotion from the First Division to the Vysheyshaya Liga, FC Smolevichi have failed to win a single match during this current campaign.

While simple to say, the issue at hand for FC Smolevichi is their inability to score goals. They’ve drawn three and lost two so far this season, all closely contested affairs with no more than a single goal per side.

FC Smolevichi are playing like a newly promoted side, obsessing over their defensive half to the detriment of their attacking ability.

They made good strides in their last match against Belshina, as FC Smolevichi had the majority of possession despite only stealing a draw due to a 90th-minute penalty.

FC Dinamo Minsk

Manager

Sergei Gurenko {Current: 2-0-3 (12th in Vysheyshaya Liga) | Top Scorer: Evgeni Shikavka (2) | Form: WLWL}

Expected Starting XI

(GK) #49 M. Plotnikau – (DEF) #3 M. Shvetsov, #6 D. Dinga, #11 K. Bručić, #17 A. Ryas – (MID) #7 I. Bakhar, #8 M. Pavlovski, #15 U. Klimovich, #23 E. Alyakhnovich – (FWD) #9 Y. Shykauka

Dinamo Minsk was certainly hoping to get off to a stronger start to its 2020 Premier League campaign. They are on a rather downward spiral, as they have won only two of their first five matches this season.

The negative trends of Dinamo Minsk’s performances were carried over from their last campaign, as they’ve only won three of their last 14 in total. Dinamo Minsk will have to prepare for all possibilities, as they’ve been poor when away from home.

Dinamo Minsk have failed to take a victory away from home in their last seven matches. Four of those seven matches have resulted in losses. Considering they’ve allowed at least two goals in four of their last six losses, Dinamo Minsk have a lot to prove.

What’s at Stake?

Dinamo Minsk and FC Smolevichi have rarely met over their respective histories. Over their last five matches, Dinamo Minsk have won four matches.

A win for Dinamo Minsk could send them as high as sixth in the table.

A win for FC Smolevichi could bring them out of the relegation zone and as high as 12th in the table.

SMO: (FWD) #8 Evgeni Barsukov

Barsukov dribbles past the defence, wins the penalty, and converts to steal a point for #fcsmolevichi #Goal #Penalty #VysheyshayaLiga pic.twitter.com/NuLMrGnPYE

— Christian Jope (@diekoningjope) April 22, 2020

Barsukov showed some exceptional composure in order to steal a point in FC Smolevechi’s last match against Belshina.

He dribbled creatively into the box, put himself in an attacking position, and won the foul to convert on the match-tying goal. While Smolevichi have struggled to find overall consistency on the pitch, Barsukov has shown, in flashes, an ability on the ball that can open up their attack.

DMN: (FWD) #9 Evgeni Shikavka

Evgeni Shikavka doubles his goal scoring total off a Neman Grodno miscue!#Goal #VysheyshayaLiga pic.twitter.com/UcSS6AgpA6

— Christian Jope (@diekoningjope) April 22, 2020

Striker Evgeni Shikavka is Dinamo Minsk’s top scorer so far this season. While he only scored his second of the season on a set-piece miscue by Neman Grodno, Shikavka is one of Minsk’s only true attacking threats in this early season. The striker will need to prove effective against an ambitious FC Smolevichi backline.