Teams to be updated after the toss.

Match details:

Tournament: Belarus Cup 2019-20
Venue: Regional Sports Complex Brestskiy
Date: Wednesday, 8^th April 2020
Time: 10 PM IST

Preview:

A star-studded second semi-final sees holders Shakhtyor travel to Brestskiy to take on defending league champions, Dynamo Brest. Shakhtyor eased past Torpedo Zhodino in the previous round, while Dynamo edged past Isloch on penalties. While they have done well in the cup, both have struggled in the league, with Shakhtyor finding themselves at 9^th while Dynamo is 10^th. It’s a big turnaround from last season, where they finished 3^rd and 1^st respectively.

Probable starting XI: 

Dynamo Brest:

Pavel Pavlyuchenko (GK), Oleg Veretilo, Kirill Pechenin, Aleksandr Pavlovets, Gabi Kiki, Oleksandr Noyok, Sergey Kislyak, Mikhail Gordejchuk, Elis Bakaj, Pavel Savitskiy, Artem Milevskiy.

Shakhtyor Soligorsk:

Aleksandr Gutor (gk), Igor Burko, Aleksandr Sachivko, Sergei Politevich, Sergey Matvejchik, Giorgi Diasamidze, Sergey Balanovich, Yuri Kendysh, Dzmitry Padstrelaw, Darko Bodul, Azdren Llullaku.

Fantasy breakdown:

Dynamo Brest:

Artem Milevskiy presents the best option among forwards from Dynamo Brest. He’s their only goal-scorer among forwards and midfielders in the league and also picked up an assist in the Belarus Super Cup.

Elis Bakaj is yet to get off the mark this season, but a game against his former team might just kickstart his stint with Dynamo. Bakaj was one of the few players last season to register double figures in goals and assists in the league.

Gabi Kiki has scored twice this season, once in the league and once in the Super Cup. Dynamo which had the 3^rd best defensive unit last season has kept one clean sheet in the league so far.

Shakhtyor Soligorsk:

Azdren Llullaku is the best option among forwards from Shakhtyor. He’s picked up a couple of assists this season in the league and cup. He is coming off a productive campaign in Romania, where he had 14 goal involvements in 25 league appearances.

Giorgi Diasamidze is one of two goal-scorers for Shakhtyor in the league this season. He had a productive campaign in Georgia before getting to Belarus, with 18 goal involvements in 25 games.

Sergey Matveychik is part of a defence that has kept 2 clean sheets this season. Dynamo has struggled to score this season, and with Shakhtyor defending well, there is value here. He can be a threat in attacking play as well, having registered 3 assists last season.

Top picks: 

Must-haves

• Artem Milevskiy
• Oleksandr Noyok
• Elis Bakaj
• Gabi Kiki
• Azdren Llullaku
• Giorgi Disamidze
• Sergey Matvejchik

Worth a shot

• Pavel Savitskiy
• Kirill Pechenin
• Dzmitry Padstrelaw
• Sergey Balanovich

Captaincy options:

1. Artem Milevskiy: Milevskiy gets the armband for this one. He has two goal involvements thus far and is known for his playmaking abilities. He led the team with 7 assists last season while also chipping in with 4 goals.
2. Giorgi Disamidze: Disamidze is a viable option in this one, as there just aren’t a lot of top options around. He may have just the one goal, but he is coming off a season with 11 goals and 7 assists in the Georgian 1^st division.
3. Elis Bakaj: Bakaj is a wildcard pick here. He is yet to open his account for the season, which is surprising considering how well he played last season, as evidenced by 22 goal involvements in 22 starts. He faces his former team in this one and might just get off the mark here.

Dream11 team:

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and are not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.