Isloch – ML Vitebsk: Preview
We describe the line‑ups for the Isloch vs ML Vitebsk match as part of the 17th round of the 2026 Belarusian Championship.
"Isloch" is four points behind the leader "ML Vitebsk" and, with a win, has the chance to re‑enter the title race.
Key points
Isloch
1. "Isloch" won two consecutive matches
The last time the "wolves" won two matches in a row was at the end of August, when the winning streak reached seven games. However, the following six matches significantly reduced Isloch’s chances for the gold medals: two wins, three draws and only one loss. The games against "Minsk" (4:2) and the final table finish against "Naftan" (6:0) allowed Dmitry Komarovsky’s players to regain confidence and prepare for the final push, which will allow, if not the championship, at least for the first time in the club’s history to finish in the top three.
2. Isloch’s midfield is empty, but the competition in attack is very high
After the return of midfielder Nikita Pasko from the hospital, Isloch’s injury list cleared, giving the coaching staff a wide range of options, especially in the attack line, where high competition leads to regular rotations. Vladimir Khvashinski sat on the bench, contributing results to Isloch in mid‑September, while Adeola Olaleye, with three goals and an assist in the last four matches, was in good form. Alexander Bueyko played the role of the "joker", scoring a goal in the last two matches after coming on as a substitute.
3. Isloch has not yet beaten ML Vitebsk in the Premier League
In their last two matches, Isloch scored a total of 10 goals. However, it is difficult to expect the same effectiveness against ML Vitebsk, who have only conceded five goals in their last 11 matches. Isloch scored a goal in the last two direct encounters against ML Vitebsk in the Premier League, and in the first cycle they even managed a 1:1 draw. The only victory of Isloch over ML Vitebsk in the four official direct matches was recorded in a cup match in 2023, when the opponent was still a First League team.
ML Vitebsk
1. Five consecutive wins: ML Vitebsk in excellent form and leading the championship The current Belarusian champion continues to rack up wins after the departure of Filippo Sokolinski, which happened after three consecutive draws, considered a major failure. Their fifth consecutive win came in a fairly tense city derby, where they executed their chances better and scored two unanswered goals at Vitebsk. Thus, the unbeaten streak in the Premier League already reached 14 matches, but the Minsk team only has one point left, so losing concentration and underestimating opponents in any of the remaining five championship matches could be fatal.
2. The space for rotation in midfield has shrunk a bit In the derby with Vitebsk, the team’s squad left out the supporting midfielder Silas Gnaqa. The Ivory Coast player, who plays as a supporting midfielder, is considered a rotation player at ML Vitebsk and would be very useful in the next match on a tight schedule. Thus, in midfield only one change is expected: Oleg Abdullah will return to the base, replacing Valery Bocherov. Additionally, captain Sergey Balanevich will rest, and in his place, on the right back, Yan Skibski will play.
3. Kontevoy aims to be the league’s top scorer In the last match, striker Bassek Diabate appeared on the bench after missing three games due to injury. However, during his absence, Artem Kontevoy got into excellent form, scoring six goals in the last six matches, narrowing the two‑goal gap in the top‑scorer race with Egor Kortov of Dinamo Brest and one goal behind the second‑place Timofey Simanenko of Gomel. Now Juan Dias has an excellent choice between two effective forwards in the centre‑forward position. Before his injury, Diabate had scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 28 matches across all competitions.
Estimated formations
3-4-3
4-3-1
3-1-1
Klimovich 33
Skrobo 3
Tikhomirov 25
Makarenco 7
Svirupa 5
Volkov 15
Pasko 99
Yudchik 8
Shramchenko 23
Koval 19
Olaleye 1
Pavlyuk 22
Skibski 20
Volkov 6
Gomanov 45
Moskalenchik 4
Abdullah 55
Gromyko 27
Mesarovich 10
Kleon 12
Bosich 80
Kontevoy
Betting on the trend
Both teams scored in four of the six direct encounters between Isloch and ML Vitebsk, including friendly matches. ODS (da) at 1.68.
At least three goals were scored in four of the last five Isloch matches and in nine of the last ten ML Vitebsk matches away from Vitebsk. TB (2.5) at 1.87.
Forecast
Isloch vs ML Vitebsk 28.10.2026 16:00
"Isloch" won two consecutive matches for the first time in August, doing so brilliantly, scoring a total of 10 goals against Minsk and Naftan. Only one of the last 18 meetings in the championship ended in a loss for the wolves. Moreover, Dmitry Komarovsky’s players, in only one of the four direct meetings with ML Vitebsk, could not score at least one goal and, in particular, drew in the away visit in the first round.
However, ML Vitebsk is in phenomenal form, undefeated in the Belarusian championship for 14 matches, and the last five meetings ended in victories with a total of 15:2. The core of the squad is almost empty, and Artem Kontevoy scored six goals in the last six matches and aims to win the top‑scorer race. Let’s assume that the important meeting for both teams in the tournament schedule will take place in a fierce battle and will give the championship leader the victory.
Prediction: 1-2
