Seven-time Belarusian Premier League champions Dinamo Minsk prepare to play host to Isloch as the Vysheyshaya Liga enters its ninth gameweek amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dinamo go into the game following a 2-1 defeat against current champions Dinamo Brest, while Isloch enjoyed a victory by the same scoreline against rock-bottom Belshina last time out.

Match preview

It certainly has not been the start that Dinamo fans would have been hoping for from their club, as the seven-time champions currently find themselves 13th in the table after eight games.

Indeed, Leonid Kuchuk's side have won three and lost five thus far during the 2020 campaign and will be looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat on Sunday afternoon.

Dinamo have not finished outside the top four in the Belarusian top flight since 2007, but Kuchuk's side are already well off the pace for a top-half finish at this early stage of the campaign.

Dinamo's first three points of the season saw them overcome high-flying Torpedo BelAZ 2-0, although their only victories since then have come against two of the three sides below them in the table in Neman and Smolevichi respectively.

Kuchuk's men can boast a respectable return of 11 goals from eight games in the Belarusian top flight, but failing to keep the ball away from their own net has proven to be their downfall as all five of their defeats have been by one goal.

In contrast, Isloch have impressed during the opening stages of the 2020 season and currently occupy fifth spot heading into gameweek nine.

Vitaly Zhukovsky's side are only one point behind leaders BATE Borisov as things stand, but they are the only team in the top eight with a negative goal difference heading into the tie with Dinamo.

Nevertheless, Isloch are on a strong run of form with three wins from their last four outings - a feat which only the top two sides can also boast.

A 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Shakhtyor Soligorsk did little to dampen the spirits as Zhukovsky's side returned to winning ways against Belshina last Sunday, with Momo Yansane's fourth goal of the season stealing all three points for Isloch.

However, as good as Isloch have been in front of their own fans this season, they have lost their last three league outings on the road conceding nine goals in the process.

Dinamo Minsk Vysheyshaya Liga form: WLWWLL

Isloch Vysheyshaya Liga form: LLWWLW

Head To Head

The two sides have met eight times since Isloch gained promotion to the top flight in 2015, with Dinamo picking up five wins compared to Isloch's one.

The seven-time champions are unbeaten in the last seven fixtures between the two clubs, and Isloch's only victory against Dinamo was a 3-1 triumph in the inaugural fixture four years ago.

Last season's corresponding match ended in a 1-0 victory for Dinamo, but the teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the most recent meeting.

We say: Dinamo Minsk 1-1 Isloch

Despite Isloch's impressive form during the early stages of the season, Dinamo have been strong in this tie down the years and Zhukovsky's men are still searching for their first away victory. Neither team has drawn a match this season, but we do not see a clear winner for this one.