The Matchday 1 clash in the Russian Premier League between Dynamo Moscow and Baltika will take place on July 18 at the VTB Arena. Dynamo Moscow vs. Baltika: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Dynamo Moscow
The Moscow club finished last season in fifth place, a step back from their bronze finish the previous year. However, with 61 goals scored, Dynamo was the most prolific team in the league. In the RPL, the team has only surpassed these numbers once in the 21st century. The season ended with a 0-3 defeat to Krasnodar, halting a six-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League (4 wins, 2 draws) and a scoring streak of 23 matches.
In the offseason, Valery Karpin took over as head coach. Due to a severe injury, Dynamo lost midfielder Luis Chavez for an extended period, and forwards Konstantin Tyukavin and Artur Gomez are still recovering. The team parted ways with Eliezer Dasa and Fabian Balbuena. Notable acquisitions include forward Ivan Sergeev and defender Maxim Osipenko.
- Dynamo has conceded in 9 of their last 10 Premier League matches.
- At home in the RPL, the Moscow side is unbeaten in 9 matches, with 7 wins.
- In 7 of their last 8 home games in this tournament, the club has scored at least two goals.
Predicted lineup for Dynamo Moscow (4-3-3)
Andrey Lunev – Maxim Osipenko, Roberto Fernandez, Diego Laxalt, Juan Caceres – Daniil Fomin, Bitello, Egor Smelov – Ivan Sergeev, Mumi Ngamale, Yaroslav Gladyshev.
Baltika
The Kaliningrad team returned to the Premier League by finishing first in the last FNL season. The team's success is closely linked to head coach Andrey Talalaev, who took charge in September 2024. Under his leadership, Baltika went on a 20-match unbeaten run in the First League (15 wins, 5 draws), keeping clean sheets in 13 of those matches. Throughout the season, Baltika conceded only 18 goals, the best record in the tournament.
The team's most expensive signings in the offseason were three foreign players: midfielders Stefan Kovach, Ayman Murid, and forward Chinonso Offor. The Kaliningrad side parted ways with several fringe players and did not extend the contract of top scorer Vitaly Lisakovich.
- Baltika has lost 5 of their last 6 RPL matches (1 win).
- Both teams scored in Baltika's last 8 Premier League encounters.
- The club has conceded in 9 consecutive league matches.
Predicted lineup for Baltika (4-5-1)
Maxim Borisko – Amar Mohhamad, Mingiyan Beveev, Kevin Andrade, Nathan Gassama – Sergey Pryakhin, Andrey Mendel, Daniil Utkin, Yuri Kovalev, Maxim Petrov – Brian Hill.
Referee
Yan Bobrovsky (Russia)
Matches – 9 (RPL, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 42;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.7;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 29;
Penalties – 44%.
Match Prediction: Dynamo Moscow vs. Baltika
Last season, Dynamo was one of the best home teams. They collected 35 points at home, second only to Krasnodar's 36. The Moscow club achieved as many victories as the champions, with 11 wins. The team dropped points in only 2 of their last 9 home RPL games, largely due to their efficient finishing: during this period, Dynamo scored 25 goals. Valery Karpin's team continued their scoring prowess in friendlies, netting 16 times in 5 matches.
Baltika performed excellently in the FNL, but it's clear that they will face tougher challenges in the higher-ranked tournament. In the 2023/24 season, the club lost 12 of their 15 away Premier League matches (1 win, 2 draws). Their defense, renowned for its reliability in the First League, will face much sterner tests. In two friendly matches against RPL teams, Andrey Talalaev's side conceded three goals.
My prediction: Dynamo to win and Total over 1.5 goals
