Match Overview

The 15th-round fixture of the Russian FNL will see Fakel take on Rotor at the Fakel Stadium on October 20. This comprehensive preview delves into the prediction, betting opportunities, odds, and statistics for the match.

Fakel’s Current Form

In their last outing, the Voronezh-based side secured their seventh 1-0 victory of the current championship season against Shinnik. Fakel has now recorded their eighth clean sheet this season, a defensive feat only surpassed by Rotor (9). The club is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak in the First League (two wins, two draws), a successful run that has propelled them back to the top of the league table. Notably, this marks their strongest ever start in the FNL after 14 rounds in the club’s history.

• In 9 out of their last 10 league matches, Fakel has not scored more than one goal.
• At home in the FNL, the club is unbeaten in 11 consecutive matches (9 wins, 2 draws).
• Fakel has kept a clean sheet in 8 of their last 9 home games in this competition.

Fakel’s Provisional Lineup

Fakel’s estimated lineup (4-2-2): Daniil Frolkin – Igor Yurganov, Yuri Zhuravlev, Stanislav Magkeev, Vasily Cherov – Ilnur Alshin, Butta Magomedov, Ravil Netfullin, Nikolai Giorgobiani – Georgy Gongadze, Belaydi Poussi.

Rotor’s Performance Analysis

The Volgograd team successfully ended their three-match winless streak in the championship by defeating Chernomorets 2-0 in the previous round. This victory also saw them find the net for the first time in this challenging period, bringing their total goal count to 20, a tally only exceeded by four other teams. Under Denis Boyarintsev’s guidance, Rotor has maintained a clean sheet in six of their last seven FNL encounters. In the league standings, Rotor has climbed to third place, trailing the leaders by five points.

• At least one team failed to score in Rotor’s last 7 league matches.
• The team has not secured a win in 5 of their last 6 away FNL games (3 draws, 2 losses).
• Rotor has conceded no more than one goal in 14 of their last 15 away matches in this competition.

Rotor’s Provisional Lineup

Rotor’s estimated lineup (4-5-1): Nikita Chagrov – Alexander Kleshchenko, Alexander Korotkov, Nikolay Pokidyshev, Andrey Semenov – Sergey Makarov, Ilya Safronov, Artem Simonyan, Mikhail Maltsev, Maxim Kaynov – Alexander Khokhlachev.

Referee Profile

Andrey Prokopov (Russia)

Matches officiated – 7 (First League, 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 27;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;

Red cards shown – 1;

Average fouls per match – 27;

Penalties awarded – 14%.

Match Prediction Analysis

Under Oleg Vasilenko’s initial guidance, Fakel appeared somewhat vulnerable, but they showcased an exemplary defensive performance in the subsequent fixture. Given the high stakes of this upcoming clash, Fakel is expected to concentrate primarily on defensive solidity. This approach has proven successful, as the Voronezh side has conceded in only one of their home fixtures this season. It’s worth noting, however, that Fakel possesses the least potent attack among the league’s top-half teams.

Rotor’s impressive run of clean sheets continues unabated. The team has only conceded a single goal in their previous seven league outings. In this highly anticipated match, considering the caliber of their opponent, Denis Boyarintsev’s squad will likely be content with a single point from this fixture, and will therefore rely heavily on their defensive strengths. Furthermore, their offensive output has been notably quiet in their last three away FNL matches.

A high-scoring affair is unlikely when two of the league’s most formidable defenses clash. Historically, their head-to-head meetings in the FNL have also been low-scoring, with five out of seven direct confrontations featuring two goals or less. My ultimate prediction for this match is: Total Goals Under 2, with an associated odds value of 1.55.