Despite the majority of football leagues across the world postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Belarusian Premier League continues to play on as Dinamo Brest host Isloch on Sunday.
Both sides go into the tie having suffered home defeats last time out in the league, with Dinamo enduring a 2-1 loss to Slavia Mozyr while Isloch were overcome by FK Slutsk by three goals to two.
Match preview
As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the globe, almost all top European leagues have been suspended, but the Vysheyshaya Liga is just getting started.
Current champions Dinamo have endured a mixed run of results in their opening three fixtures, chalking up one win, one draw and one loss during the current season as they lie 10th in the table.
That solitary defeat last time out means that Dinamo have already lost as many fixtures this season as they did during their victorious 2019 campaign, where they suffered a 2-1 loss to Dinamo Minsk last July in their most recent home defeat.
Nevertheless, Sergey Kovalchuk's side got back to winning ways on Tuesday as they overcame Shakhtyor Soligorsk 2-0 in the Belarusian Cup semi-final first leg.
Furthermore, Kovalchuk will no doubt be confident in his side's ability to turn their fortunes around as the season progresses, with the current champions having picked up a piece of silverware three years in a row.
Meanwhile, Isloch will be travelling to their first away game of the season having picked up two wins from their opening three fixtures.
Vitaly Zhukovsky's side have firmly established themselves as a top-level team following their inception in 2007, finishing fifth in last year's competition and sitting fourth heading into their clash with Dinamo.
Two consecutive 1-0 home victories against Nemon Grondo and Smolevichy respectively was followed up by a 3-2 defeat to FK Slutsk in front of their own fans, with Aleksandr Makas's brace not enough to avoid a first loss of the season for Isloch.
Nevertheless, Zhukovsky's side have picked up wins in three of their last five away matches in the Belarusian top flight, with their most recent victory on the road coming against the country's most successful side in BATE Borisov last year.
Isloch could very well climb into the top three with a win should other results go their way this weekend, but they are facing a Dinamo side who have only lost five Vysheyshaya Liga fixtures at the OSK Brestsky since 2017.
Dinamo Brest Vysheyshaya Liga form: DWL
Dinamo Brest form (all competitions): DWDWLW
Isloch Vysheyshaya Liga form: WWL
Isloch form (all competitions): DLWWL
Head To Head
The two sides have already met in the quarter-finals of the Belarusian cup last month, with Dinamo progressing to the semi-finals on penalties after two 0-0 draws.
Isloch have only recorded one victory over Dinamo in 10 attempts, winning 3-1 at home in 2017, while Dinamo have triumphed six times including a 5-1 thrashing in the corresponding fixture last season.
We say: Dinamo Brest 2-0 Isloch
While Isloch have been terrific value for their victories this season, Dinamo will be determined to bounce back from their defeat in front of their own fans last time out. Dinamo's impressive record against Zhukovsky's men certainly bodes well for them heading into the match, so we are going for a home win.
Ben Knapton
