Dinamo Minsk are set to take on Hearts in the Conference League on Thursday evening, both aiming to get off to the perfect start to their league phase campaigns.
The hosts were relegated into this competition after losing 2-0 on aggregate to Anderlecht in their Europa League playoff tie, while the visitors also dropped down with a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Viktoria Plzen in their playoff round tie.
Match preview
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After clinching their first Vysshaya Liga title since 2004 in 2023, Dinamo Minsk earned the chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, a tournament they haven't participated in since the 1993-94 season.
They narrowly progressed through their first-round matchup with Pyunik Yerevan, winning 1-0 on aggregate, before making a second-round exit at the hands of Ludogorets, losing 2-1 over two legs.
Dinamo Minsk were able to advance to the Europa League playoff round, where they faced Anderlecht, but a 2-0 aggregate defeat forced them into Europe's third-tier tournament.
As for their domestic form, they currently sit second in the league with 47 points from 20 fixtures, leaving them just three points behind first-placed Neman Grodno, although Dinamo Minsk do boast three games in hand over the league leaders.
They recently suffered their first loss of the league season as they were defeated 1-0 by Vitebsk, but Vadim Skripchenko's side have bounced back with two consecutive victories, leaving them in good form heading into this one.
In stark contrast, Hearts have experienced a dreadful start to their 2024-25 campaign, failing to secure a win in any of their first 10 fixtures across all competitions.
Former manager Steven Naismith, who guided the team to third place in the Scottish Premiership last term, was sacked following their dreadful start, leaving Liam Fox to take charge on an interim basis.
Fox has made an immediate impact on the Jam Tarts, ending their eight-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Ross County in their most recent match, thanks to a 96th-minute equaliser from Lawrence Shankland.
With Hearts still searching for their next permanent manager, Fox will take charge yet again on Thursday, and the interim boss will be hopeful that his side can secure their first victory of the season in their 11th attempt against Pot Six opponents.
Team News
The hosts have a clean bill of health heading into their Conference League opener, leaving Skripchenko with a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Skripchenko could opt to name the same side that defeated Isloch 2-0 in their last match, thanks to two goals from midfielder Boni Amian, who is likely to keep his place alongside Nikita Demchenko.
As for the visitors, Calem Nieuwenhof remains on the treatment table as the midfielder continues his recovery from a hamstring injury that he sustained in July, while Gerald Taylor is also out after suffering a knee injury in their match against St Mirren late last month.
Elsewhere, Fox could opt to name the same side that recorded a draw and a positive performance in their last game against Ross County, with Shankland, who scored his first goal of the season, expected to continue in attack.
Dinamo Minsk possible starting lineup:
Lapoukhov; Pigas, Kalinin, Sachivko, Polyakov, Lopes; Demchenko, Amian; Podstrelov, Alfred, Zherdev
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Devlin, Baningime; Vargas, Grant, Forrest; Shankland
We say: Dinamo Minsk 1-2 Hearts
While the visitors have been in awful form this season, and the hosts have lost just once in their last five outings, we believe Hearts have a stronger squad and should secure a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
