In the opening round of the Russian league both Baltika and Dynamo Moscow played some lively football yet came away empty handed and that sense of unfinished business sets up a tasty clash this weekend. The visitors from Kaliningrad have now gone ten games without a win stretching back into last season with a run of four draws followed by five straight defeats and their back line has not kept a clean sheet in ages. Losing first choice keeper Maxim Borisko to CSKA has only added to the headache although experienced shot stopper Evgeni Latyshonok is back on loan and could start between the posts. Dynamo on their part created plenty of chances against Krylya Sovetov but again failed to turn shots into goals and the story feels all too familiar from last term.
Team Form
Baltika look shaky at the back and will need Latyshonok to settle quickly if they hope to stop the rot. Their attack has shown flashes but lacks the final touch while Dynamo keep knocking on the door without walking through it. The Moscow side still boast real firepower up top and star striker Konstantin Tyukavin remains a handful that no defence can ignore. Club bosses have made it clear they are not selling him to Zenit so he should stay and keep causing problems all afternoon.
- Baltika winless in ten matches
- Defence leaking goals regularly
- Dynamo firing blanks despite high shot count
- Tyukavin in top form and staying put
Tactical Analysis
Expect Dynamo to dominate possession and pepper the Baltika goal from distance while the hosts look to hit on the break once Latyshonok organises the rear guard. The absence of Borisko could mean more long balls aimed at testing the new keeper early. Both sides know a draw helps nobody so the game should open up after the break with plenty of space for the forwards to exploit. That kind of open play usually leads to goals at both ends especially when defences are not at their sharpest.
Betting Proposal
Given the attacking intent on show and the defensive frailties this fixture looks set for goals. The smart money is on over 2.5 goals at odds of 2.00 because both teams are overdue a breakthrough and the match script points to an end to end battle. Backing both sides to find the net also makes sense with the way the defences are lined up right now.
Overall this promises to be a lively encounter where the team that takes their chances first will grab the points and fans can expect a few twists before the final whistle.
