Match Preview: Ural vs Rotor
The 11th-round fixture of the , featuring Ural and Rotor, is scheduled for September 20 at Yekaterinburg Arena. This article offers a comprehensive prediction, betting insights, coefficients, and key statistics for the Ural – Rotor encounter.
Ural’s Current Form
Team Performance and League Position
The team from Yekaterinburg secured an away victory against Ufa (3:2) in their last match. This triumph marks their seventh win of the current championship season (along with 2 draws and 1 defeat), elevating Miroslav Romashchenko’s squad to the top of the league table. With 19 goals scored, Ural also boasts the most potent attack in the league. Moreover, the club has consistently found the back of the net in 17 of its last 18 FNL matches.
- A maximum of two goals was scored in 5 of Ural’s previous 7 league outings.
- At home, the team has won 6 of their last 7 FNL matches (with 1 draw).
- In 9 of their last 10 home First League encounters, the club has scored at least twice.
Ural’s Anticipated Starting XI (4-4-2)
Expected Lineup Configuration
Alexander Selikhov – Silvije Begic, Leo Cordero, Egor Mosin, Vladislav Malkevich – Timofey Margasov, Roman Akbashev, Matvey Bardachev, Vitaly Bondarev – Maxim Voronov, Martin Sekulic.
Rotor’s Current Form
Recent Victories and Defensive Solidity
The Volgograd team delivered a crushing 3:0 home defeat to KAMAZ in their last round, securing their third consecutive league victory. Furthermore, Rotor kept a clean sheet throughout this winning streak, and they have recorded six shutouts in FNL 2025/26, a statistic unmatched by any other team. Notably, in the match against Chelny, the club ended without a single corner kick for the first time this season, despite their average of 4.6 corners. Under coach Denis Boyarintsev, the team has climbed to 4th position in the standings.
- At least one team failed to score in 7 of Rotor’s previous 9 league matches.
- On the road, Rotor has avoided defeat in 7 of their last 9 away games in this tournament (4 wins, 3 draws).
- In their last 12 away FNL fixtures, the club has not conceded more than one goal.
Rotor’s Anticipated Starting XI (4-5-1)
Expected Lineup Configuration
Nikita Chagrov – Denis Fomin, Vyacheslav Bardybakhin, Alexander Korotkov, Nikolai Pokidyshev – Sergey Makarov, Ilya Safronov, Artem Simonyan, Yaroslav Arbuzov, David Davidyan – Alexander Khokhlachev.
Match Official
Referee Profile and Statistics
Danil Kashirin (Russia)
Referee Performance in 2025/26 First League
Matches officiated – 5;
Yellow cards shown (including second cautions) – 16;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.2;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 30;
Penalties awarded – 60%.
Ural – Rotor Match Prediction
Battle of High-Scoring Teams
This upcoming fixture pits two of the tournament’s most offensively successful teams against each other. While Ural’s high scoring rate is expected, Rotor’s goal-scoring prowess has come as a surprise to many. The Volgograd side has found the net in their last 7 championship matches, a run that includes three emphatic victories. According to the club’s head coach, his players are now consistently delivering the attacking football they’ve been aiming for. It’s highly probable that the Yekaterinburg team, which frequently concedes goals even on home soil, will face a significant challenge.
Ural’s Strong Home Offense
Intriguingly, Ural has only failed to score against Torpedo in the current championship campaign. On their home pitch, the Yekaterinburg side has scored in 10 consecutive First League matches, netting at least twice in 9 of these encounters. I anticipate that Rotor’s defense will struggle to withstand this offensive pressure. Although Rotor’s defensive record is impressive, it’s essential to consider the quality of opponents they’ve managed to “shut down,” with only KAMAZ standing out as a particularly strong side among them.
Expert Betting Tip
My prediction: “Total Goals Over 2” with odds of 1.85
Mark Thompson
