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In a crucial face-off in the race for Euro 2024 qualification, Andorra is gearing up to host Belarus at the Estadi Nacional on September 9, 2023, at 5 pm UK time. This Group I encounter finds the hosts at the bottom of the group table, seeking a much-needed victory to bolster their campaign, while Belarus aims to continue their pursuit for a top-two spot in the standings.

Analysis:

The upcoming encounter between Andorra and Belarus holds significant weight for both teams as they strive to build momentum in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Andorra, under the guidance of Koldo Alvarez, has shown signs of improvement over the years. Despite being positioned at the bottom of the Group I table, they have managed to garner a point from their recent fixtures, indicating a potential shift in the tide. Their recent defensive record, with many losses being by a slender one-goal margin, hints at a growing resilience in the team. Moreover, they have managed to find the back of the net with some consistency and will be eager to continue this streak, having scored in three of their previous four meetings with Belarus.

On the other hand, Belarus, managed by Georgy Kondratyev, has had a rocky start to their Euro 2024 qualification journey. They have faced some hard defeats but seemed to have regained some footing with a victory against Kosovo recently. Their current position in the standings paints a picture of urgency, where avoiding any further setbacks is crucial. Belarus’ away form has been a cause for concern, and they need to address this swiftly, especially considering that four of their final six qualifiers are away fixtures. Notably, Belarus has had the upper hand in previous encounters with Andorra, including a convincing 5-1 victory in their last meeting in June 2009, a memory they would like to rekindle in this fixture.

Andorra will likely approach this game with a defensive strategy, relying on a five-man defence line to hold off the Belarusian attack. Albert Rosas is expected to lead the offensive charge, with a supporting cast featuring the likes of Eric Vales and either Marcio Vieira or Marc Rebes in the midfield. On the flip side, Belarus might introduce new blood with the potential debuts of Egor Parkhomenko and Leonardo Mascaro-Kapilevich. Max Ebong, with a promising scoring record in recent matches, will be the one to watch in the Belarus camp.

Prediction:

Given the recent performances and statistics, Belarus seems to hold a slight edge in this encounter. The historical data and recent form point towards a Belarus victory, as they have shown a better performance in comparison to Andorra in their recent matches.

Goal.mu predicts: Andorra 1-3 Belarus.

This prediction is grounded on Belarus’ recent resurgence and Andorra’s struggle to find a win in their recent games. The attacking prowess of Belarus, combined with their higher success rate in previous encounters with Andorra, reinforces the prediction of a Belarus win with a sizeable margin.