Match Introduction

The 12th-round match of the PARI First League (FNL) between Spartak Kostroma and Volga Ulyanovsk will take place on September 29 at the Urozhay Stadium. This forecast covers the Spartak Kostroma – Volga Ulyanovsk encounter, including predictions, odds, and statistics.

Spartak Kostroma: Team Analysis

The team secured an away victory against Chaika (4:2) in the last round. This win marked their eighth in the current championship (with 2 draws and 1 loss), and Spartak only failed to score in their single lost match. Furthermore, with 20 goals scored, Sergey Bondar’s charges are the most prolific in the tournament. The club also leads the overall standings, two points ahead of their closest competitor. It’s worth noting that in the game against Peschanokoptsy, the team committed only 8 fouls (an average of 15 fouls per game).

• Both teams have scored in Spartak Kostroma’s last 7 championship matches.
• At home, Spartak has remained unbeaten in 4 out of 5 FNL-2025/26 fixtures (2 wins, 2 draws).
• The team has conceded goals in 7 consecutive home games across the First and Second Leagues.

Spartak Kostroma Provisional Lineup (4-5-1)

Mikhail Gaidash – Nikita Supranovich, Denis Zhilmostnykh, Maxim Ignatiev, Nikolay Tarasov – Egor Nazarenko, Dmitry Sadov, Anatoly Nemchenko, Ivan Enin, Kirill Chursin – Artur Garibyan.

Volga Ulyanovsk: Team Overview

Volga Ulyanovsk suffered a 1:4 home defeat against Neftekhimik in the previous round. This is the team’s second significant loss in the current championship. Additionally, Volga has conceded goals in 6 consecutive FNL matches. Overall, Mikhail Belov’s team has let in 20 goals, with only Chaika having a worse record (26 goals conceded). With 11 points (3 wins, 2 draws), the club sits in 12th place in the standings.

• At least one goal was scored in both halves in 5 out of Volga Ulyanovsk’s last 6 First League games.
• In 6 out of their last 7 previous away championship matches, Volga Ulyanovsk scored no more than one goal.
• The team has failed to win in 5 out of their last 6 previous away FNL matches (2 draws, 3 losses).

Volga Ulyanovsk Provisional Lineup (3-4-3)

Alexey Kenyaykin – Kamil Ibragimov, Konstantin Kovalev, Aidar Khabibullin – Danil Novikov, Mikhail Umnikov, Ruslan Shagiakhmetov, Denis Rakhmanov – Dmitry Kamenshchikov, Artur Murza, Evgeny Voronin.

Referee Analysis

Nikolai Voloshin (Russia)

Referee Statistics

Matches officiated – 12 (First League, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 35;

Average yellow cards per match – 2.9;

Red cards shown – 2;

Average fouls per match – 25;

Penalties awarded – 8%.

Match Prediction: Spartak Kostroma vs Volga Ulyanovsk

One-third of the championship has passed, and Spartak Kostroma has unexpectedly, but deservedly, found themselves at the top of the table. After losing in the first round to Fakel, Sergey Bondar’s side embarked on a 10-match unbeaten streak, dropping points only twice during this period – against Neftekhimik and Ural. Spartak displays excellent scoring prowess, netting at least two goals in 6 of their last 7 FNL matches, but has failed to keep a clean sheet during this run.

Volga Ulyanovsk’s Challenge

Volga Ulyanovsk will put up a fight in this match, but it will be tough for them to secure points. This is due to both Kostroma’s excellent form and their own poor results. In the current championship, Mikhail Belov’s team has managed only three victories, two of which were at home. On the road, the club only managed to beat Torpedo, but even against one of the league’s lowest-scoring teams, Volga conceded twice. In total, Volga Ulyanovsk has allowed 10 goals in 5 away FNL-2025/26 fixtures.

Expert Pick

Considering these facts, my prediction is: “Spartak Kostroma not to lose and Total Over 1.5 Goals”.