San Marino vs Belarus Predictions

San Marino suffered a fifth defeat in five League D Group 2 games on Thursday when they lost 1-0 at home to Moldova, and there haven’t been any positives from this tournament for the minnows who are yet to score a single goal in the Nations League. On Sunday Belarus provide the opposition in Serravalle, and the visitors arrive knowing they only need a point to confirm their promotion to League C after they beat rivals Luxembourg 2-0 on Thursday to go top of the table.

San Marino rarely troubled Koselev in the Moldova goal on Thursday, producing just two shots on target in the entire ninety minutes. This game was supposed to provide San Marino’s best chances at picking up points or at the very least scoring a goal or two, but neither materialised.

The hosts did managed to hold their guest to a goalless draw heading into the half time break, and up until Damascan seventy-seventh minute winner looked like they might hold out for a point. Moldova fully deserved the three points though, claiming 78% of the overall possession, having fourteen corners to San Marino’s one, and managing eighteen shots during the ninety minutes to the hosts three.

The entire San Marino squad has scored a grand total of three goals between them, with strikers Vitaioli and Rinaldi scoring one goal each in a combined ninety international caps, while defender Mirko Palazzi has also chipped in with one goal in his forty-two appearances for his country.

Belarus are likely to start with 26-year old Anton Saroka up front, with the Lokeren striker on six goals from his thirteen international appearances. The visitors have plenty of goals in midfield with both Drahun and Kislyak on nine goal apiece, while former Arsenal man Alexander Hleb is still playing for his country at the age of thirty-seven and has scored six goals in seventy-eight games for Belarus.

The visitors have an aging squad with just two players under the age of twenty-five, and that will be cause for concern even with promotion to League C as Belarus need to begin blooding some younger players while they still have some experienced heads around them for guidance.

Belarus sat second in the group heading into a potentially tricky game away at Luxembourg, but a thirty-seventh minute strike from Dragun gave the visitors a half time lead. Luxembourg gave as good as they got, but just couldn’t break down the Belarus defence and found themselves 2-0 down in the fifty-fourth minute when Dragun helped himself to a brace.

There was no way back for the hosts as Belarus sat back and protected their two goal lead and still managed to hold onto the majority of the possession. This win practically assures Belarus promotion to League C, providing they don’t lose to the groups whipping boys on Sunday.

We’re confident that under 3.5 goals will be scored in Sunday’s game, and have backed the final scoreline to read 3-0. San Marino’s last four games have produced under 3.5 goals, while the hosts haven’t scored a single goal in any of their last seven international matches. Six of Belarus’ last seven matches have produced under 3.5 goals, and the visitors haven’t conceded a goal in any of their last five international matches.