Cherepovets — Shinnik : Match Preview and Prediction for September 24,2025

Cherepovets: The Underdog’s Challenge

Let’s analyze the hosts. Cherepovets, a team from the Second League, is set to face an FNL opponent in this cup tie. The disparity in class is evident, and this will undoubtedly compel “Cherepovets” to adopt a much more cautious approach than they would in their divisional matches. While they have successfully navigated three preliminary rounds, the level of opposition they now encounter is distinctly different.

Recent Form and Offensive Struggles

Cherepovets’ recent league performances reveal a consistent pattern. Their 1-0 victories over “SSHOR Vityaz” and “Luki-Energiya” were not high-scoring spectacles, but rather hard-fought, gritty results where a single goal proved decisive. Even in their 1-2 loss against “Saturn”, the game remained delicately poised, and the missed penalty in the 95th minute perfectly encapsulated their struggles in attack. This clearly indicates persistent issues with converting chances.

Past Cup History and Home Statistics

We should also consider their cup experience from the previous season. Cherepovets exited the tournament in the very first round, suffering a 0-1 home defeat to “Dynamo Vologda.” This scenario bears a striking resemblance to the cautious, low-scoring encounter I anticipate now. Furthermore, their home game statistics lend weight to this prediction: in 10 of Cherepovets’ last 15 matches played on their home turf, fewer than three goals were scored.

Shinnik: A Defensive Powerhouse

And here lies our primary argument. “Shinnik” is virtually synonymous with low-scoring games. The Yaroslavl side approaches this match with an astonishing record: zero goals conceded in their last five outings. Zero! This represents an iron-clad defense that a team from the Second League will find almost impossible to breach.

Limited Attack, Pragmatic Play

Concurrently, Shinnik’s attack does not particularly shine. Across these same five clean-sheet matches, they have netted only three goals, resulting in an average of just 0.6 goals per game. Artyom Buloychik’s squad employs a pragmatic, tenacious brand of football, where the absolute priority is preventing goals. Their last two FNL matches are perfect examples: a 0-0 draw with “KAMAZ” and another 0-0 stalemate against “Sokol.”

A Battle, Not a Spectacle

The match against “KAMAZ” was especially noteworthy. A grand total of zero shots on target for both teams throughout the entire game! Following that encounter, the Yaroslavl coach spoke of “man’s football,” “tackles,” and “aerial duels.” This is precisely what we should expect in Cherepovets – a fierce battle, not an open, free-flowing contest. Shinnik’s cup history further confirms this trend: in 8 of their last 10 previous tournament matches, no more than two goals were scored.