Belarus vs Switzerland Predictions

• Switzerland have won five of their last seven competitive matches, five of which contained under 3.5 goals.
• Belarus are winless in 13 competitive matches, losing 10 times in that run.
• Belarus have only scored seven times in their last 13 competitive contests.
• Saturday’s match will be played in Serbia after the war in Ukraine led FIFA to sanction Belarus.

Homeless Belarus have little hope

While Belarus have avoided joining Russia in being excluded from the Euro 2024 qualification process, sanctions mean Georgy Kondratyev’s team must play their home matches abroad – with Novi Sad, Serbia chosen to host Saturday’s meeting with Switzerland. Fresh off a run to the last 16 at the World Cup, Murat Yakin’s side – a fixture at recent major tournaments – will certainly fancy their chances of making a strong start in Group I, for which they are strong favourites.

Indeed, Switzerland have won five of their last seven competitive games, the exceptions coming against Brazil and Portugal – the latter a 6-1 thrashing after the Swiss camp was supposedly affected by a virus – at the World Cup. Five of those matches have contained a maximum of three goals, with Switzerland possessing a deserved reputation as a tough nut to crack. Indeed, Switzerland conceded just two goals in eight games as they saw off Italy to top their 2022 World Cup qualification group.

Belarus, meanwhile, are winless in 13 competitive matches, and the absence of home advantage for this game means they look destined to extend that awful run. The hosts have lost 10 times during that run, only avoiding defeat against Slovakia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Kondratyev’s men have only scored seven times in their last 13 excluding friendlies, and they look unlikely to find a way past Manuel Akanji and company.

Swiss set for routine win

With Switzerland possessing a strong rearguard and Belarus in disarray, backing the visitors for victory is an obvious play, though adding under 3.5 match goals is a good way of securing additional value – Yakin’s men did not score over three goals in any of their 13 games in 2022.

Switzerland have won all three of their previous matches against Belarus to nil, and we expect that run to continue with a routine 2-0 win for Yakin’s side.