Match Overview

The 12th round fixture of the (FNL) will see Rodina face Sokol on September 29 at Arena Khimki. This detailed preview covers the match prediction, betting odds, and key statistics for Rodina vs Sokol.

Rodina’s Current Form

Head coach Juan Diaz’s side experienced a significant 0-4 away defeat against Chelyabinsk in their last outing. This loss marked their first in 8 consecutive championship matches, where they had secured 4 victories and 3 draws. Additionally, their impressive 5-game scoring streak in the FNL came to an end. Notably, Rodina had failed to find the net only twice in their preceding 12 tournament fixtures before this match. The club currently holds the 7th position in the league standings.

• In 5 of Rodina’s last 7 First League games, at least one team failed to score.
• At their home ground, Rodina has triumphed in 8 of their previous 11 championship encounters (2 draws, 1 defeat).
• A minimum of one goal was scored in both halves in 5 of the club’s last 7 FNL home matches.

Rodina’s Predicted Line-up (4-5-1)

Sergey Volkov – Mitya Krizhan, Artyom Sokol, Ilya Dyatlov, Artyom Meshchaninov – Andrey Egorychev, Ruslan Fischenko, Astemir Gordyushenko, Iordy Reyna, Kirill Ushatov – Artyom Maksimenko.

Sokol’s Recent Performance

Conversely, Saratov managed to snap their winless streak in the previous round. Their victory over Torpedo was, in fact, their inaugural win of the current championship season (following 5 draws and 5 losses). However, Sokol’s meager scoring output of just 5 goals, the lowest in the tournament, suggests that expectations for greater achievements should remain tempered. Despite their offensive struggles, Mladen Kascelan’s men have kept 4 clean sheets, with only four other teams boasting a better defensive record. The club has ascended to the 16th spot in the overall standings.

• Fewer than three goals were scored in 10 of Sokol’s last 12 FNL matches.
• On the road, the team has been unable to secure a victory in 16 of their last 17 First League away games (5 draws, 11 losses).
• In 7 of their last 9 away fixtures in this competition, the Volga team conceded the first goal.

Sokol’s Predicted Line-up (3-4-3)

Mikhail Levashov – Vladimir Kovacevic, Nikita Pechenkin, Artyom Bykov – Ivan Churikov, Anton Sinyak, Ruslan Daurov, Pavel Kireenko – Alexey Goliyanin, Roman Ermolin, Amir Kahrimanovic.

Match Referee

Nikita Novikov (Russia)

Matches officiated – 6 (First League, 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 25;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;

Red cards shown – 0;

Average fouls per match – 30;

Penalties awarded – 17%.

Match Prediction: Rodina vs Sokol

The Moscow-based club suffered a crushing defeat in their last game, but the outcome could have been different had Juan Diaz’s players converted their chances in the first half. This was only the second instance this season that the Muscovites left the pitch without scoring. However, at home, the capital club has scored in 11 consecutive championship matches. Furthermore, in 8 of these games, Rodina found the net at least twice, securing victories in those encounters.

Saratov finally ended their challenging period with a win against an equally struggling Torpedo. This achievement took place on their home turf, a venue where Sokol typically collects points. Away from home, however, the Volga team is on a streak of 4 FNL losses, having conceded 7 goals during this sequence. The visitors’ defense is set to face a stern challenge as Rodina is highly motivated to redeem themselves after their previous heavy loss. Moreover, Saratov has lost both prior head-to-head matches on their opponent’s ground with an aggregate score of 0-6.

My prediction: Rodina Win and Over 1.5 Goals with odds of 1.50.

Author: Alexey Tarabrin