Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Europa League match
After overcoming Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps in the previous qualifying round, Dinamo Minsk became the first Belarusian club in six years to reach the group stage of a European competition. Obviously, against Anderlecht, they are the underdogs, and the neutral field in Mezőkövesd won't offer much support from fans.
Dinamo Minsk
The forced break in the Belarusian championship has paid off: through three rounds of Champions League and Europa League qualification, Dinamo has achieved their goal. Of course, the second-leg match away to Lincoln Red Imps (1:2) presented many problems for the team, revealing their defensive weaknesses (2-6 shots on target). The experienced defensive pair of Sergey Politevich and Aleksey Gavrilovich struggled to keep up with Gibraltar's quick attack—a similar challenge is expected against the Belgian opponents.
Anderlecht
Anderlecht's start to the season has not just been good—it has exceeded all fan expectations. A strong pre-season (five wins in six games) has helped them hit impressive form, making them the first team in Belgium to reach 10 points. On Saturday, they defeated Mechelen (3:1), despite allowing many chances at their goal (8:9 shots on target). High finishing rates add confidence to Anderlecht.
Dinamo Minsk - Anderlecht Prediction
It's likely that the favourites won't delay securing their place in the Europa League group stage for the home game. In Hungary, Anderlecht will apply high pressing, while Dinamo will have to respond with counter-attacks—an abundance of mistakes will lead to goals.
