Dinamo Minsk vs Torpedo Zhodino Predictions

• Dinamo Minsk have won just one of their last 10 Belarusian Premier League games, losing both outings this season.
• Torpedo BelAZ have won both their Premier League games 1-0 this season.
• Torpedo BelAZ beat Dinamo Minsk in both their Premier League meetings last season, keeping a clean sheet in both games.

Dinamo’s downward trajectory continues

Dinamo Minsk may be regulars in the Belarusian Premier League top three, but there are signs that their grip on the European qualification places is slipping. The hosts finished 4th for the first time since 2011 last season, and the new campaign has got off to a disappointingly rocky start.

Dinamo began the season with an early cup exit at the hands of BATE, and followed that with a dismal 1-0 loss at home to the newly promoted Ruh Brest in their Premier League opener.

Things went from bad to worse last weekend when they visited rivals Minsk, heading into the break 3-0 down before having a man sent off. Remarkably, Dinamo almost made an epic comeback thanks to a quickfire double 15 minutes from time, but they couldn’t make the final leap and come into this clash with no points on the board.

Torpedo BelAZ look to make the step up

With Dinamo Minsk’s form slipping, one team that is poised to take advantage is Torpedo BelAZ. The visitors have long been on the cusp of securing European qualification, finishing within touching distance in each of the last five seasons.

Their campaign, despite being knocked out of the cup early on, has started very well indeed. They have beaten Shakhtyor and Belshina by a goal to nil and find themselves 4th in the Belarusian top flight.

Vitali Ustinov and Dmitri Yashin, two newly acquired defenders, have helped them to successive clean sheets while winger Gabriel Ramos found the net on his league debut for his new club.

Third straight win on the cards for visitors

Torpedo BelAZ will be confident of continuing their positive start to the season, especially when they think back to last season’s meetings with Dinamo Minsk. They won both league clashes, including a 3-0 thumping at the Stadyen Dynama last June. With Dinamo winning just one of their last 10 Belarusian Premier League games, a Torpedo BelAZ Win or Draw Double Chance looks a great bet.

The visitors are very capable of eking out another win on Friday too. They have won both league games this season by 1-0 scorelines, and with only two of the last 14 league and cup meetings between these sides seeing both teams get on the scoresheet another 1-0 win looks a promising option.