Dynamo can dominate in a classic chess match
This Dinamo Moscow vs FK Baltika Kaliningrad preview looks at how Dinamo Moscow will be keen to keep up their momentum after a solid start to the new season and a fixture against Baltika represents a great opportunity to collect 3 points on Friday.
The hosts are a very consistent side and have lost just 4 of their previous 24 Russian Premier League fixtures.
Dinamo Moscow are unbeaten in 9 home Premier League fixtures and have scored in each of their last 11 league matches at VTB Arena, suggesting they are more than capable of breaking down opposing teams.
The playing style of both sides should make this a really interesting tactical clash of styles.
Dinamo Moscow play a very technical brand of football, where the players are patient and play the ball in possession but are also able to press the opposition with purpose and patience.
The manager sets his team up to dominate the midfield area and they tend to play either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, both of which are geared towards setting up and playing through the middle third.
Baltika are a more pragmatic side, with a deep defensive structure and a slow playing tempo.
The visitors will try to frustrate the stronger opposition and their defence should hold a deeper line, either in a 5-4-1 or 4-5-1 setup, where the pace of the game is slow and the focus is on counter-attacking.
Baltika’s form coming into this game leaves a lot to be desired and they have drawn 3 and lost 2 of their most recent 5 fixtures against teams like Lokomotiv and Spartak.
They have been fairly solid at the back, conceding just 0.4 goals per match over the last 5 matches.
The contrast in styles should be very apparent and this fixture will be a chess game of sorts.
We think the Dinamo Moscow vs FK Baltika Kaliningrad odds are heavily in favour of Dinamo Moscow, who look very good value at 1.57 when they’re up against Baltika at 6.71.
Dinamo are consistently solid, Baltika are drawing and lacking potency.
For our Dinamo Moscow vs FK Baltika Kaliningrad prediction, Dinamo are a very solid team who have never lost to Baltika in the Russian Premier League, Baltika are a team who often draw and lack the potency of the more accomplished teams in the division.
Dinamo’s 13-match unbeaten run in the first half of the season is a clear sign that they are able to control the flow of games, something we see happening in this encounter.
At the prices we will take Dinamo to beat Baltika to nil.
This fixture carries important early-season league implications: Dinamo will look to cement their title challenge with a win, while Baltika will need to take points if they are to survive.
To sum up, our Dinamo Moscow vs FK Baltika Kaliningrad betting tips suggest backing the home side for a clean sheet victory.
Overall, the Dinamo Moscow vs FK Baltika Kaliningrad prediction is strongly in favour of the hosts, given the current form and historical record.
