Match Overview

The 13th-round match of the (FNL) between Sokol and Arsenal Tula is set to take place on October 5 at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Saratov. Here’s our detailed prediction, betting odds, and statistics for the Sokol vs Arsenal Tula clash.

Sokol’s Recent Performance

The Saratov side recently suffered a 0-2 away defeat against Rodina in the previous round. This loss marks their sixth defeat in the current championship (with 1 win and 5 draws). Furthermore, the Volga team has failed to score in 7 matches in the FNL 2025/26 season, a metric that no other team performs worse in. Against the Moscow club, Sokol also failed to register a single shot on target for the first time this season (averaging 3.4 per game). In the league standings, Mladen Kaščelan’s charges are currently in the relegation zone, but they are only two points adrift from the safe 15th position.

Key Statistics for Sokol

• At least one opponent has failed to score in 5 of Sokol’s last 6 First League matches.
• At home, the team has not scored more than one goal in 21 consecutive league matches.
• In 7 of their last 8 home matches in this tournament, the club has not conceded more than one goal.

Sokol’s Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)

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

Arsenal Tula’s Form Analysis

The Tula side lost 0-1 away to Neftekhimik in the previous round, extending their winless streak in the championship to four matches (1 draw, 3 losses). Dmitry Gunko’s team has also conceded goals in 6 consecutive matches in this tournament. However, Arsenal regularly finds the back of the net, scoring in 10 out of 12 FNL 2025/26 games; only Chelyabinsk and Spartak have scored more often. Due to this difficult period, the club has dropped to 11th place in the overall standings.

Key Statistics for Arsenal Tula

• At least three goals were scored in 6 of Tula’s last 8 First League matches.
• Away from home, the team has failed to win in 19 of their last 22 league matches (10 draws, 9 losses).
• In 6 of their last 7 away games in this tournament, Arsenal conceded exactly 1 or 2 goals.

Arsenal Tula’s Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Mikhail Tsulaya – Kirill Bolshakov, Alexey Berdnikov, Nikita Karmaev, Daniil Penchikov – Danil Lipovoy, Alexander Troshechkin, Miloš Brnović, Edarlin Reyes, Tigran Avanesyan – Amur Kalmykov.

Referee for the Match

Anton Sidorin (Russia)

Referee Statistics

Matches officiated – 5 (First League, 2023/24 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 13;

Average yellow cards per match – 2.6;

Red cards shown – 0;

Average fouls per match – 26;

Penalties awarded – 20%.

Match Prediction: Sokol vs Arsenal Tula

Bookmakers have made the Tula side favorites for this match, a perspective that can be debated. Dmitry Gunko’s team has secured only two victories in their last 9 league matches (3 draws, 4 losses). One of these wins came at home against a weak away team, SKA-Khabarovsk, while the other was against the league’s main underdog in Peschanokopskoe. Furthermore, in this period, Arsenal twice salvaged a draw only thanks to goals scored in injury time.

While the Saratov team’s results haven’t been outstanding, Sokol consistently earns points on their home turf. The Volga side has avoided defeat in 7 of their last 8 home games in the First League (3 wins, 4 draws), with their only loss in this run coming against KAMAZ, a team that was in formidable form at the time. Historically, Sokol has also only lost once to Tula at home in their last 5 official head-to-head encounters. It is worth remembering that in that particular season, Arsenal ultimately reached the promotion playoffs.

My prediction: “Sokol Win or Draw” with odds of 1.65.

Author: Aleksey Tarabrin