Yenisey — Fakel : Match Preview and Prediction for September 20,2025

Yenisey’s Current Form and Potential

Andrei Tikhonov’s tactical approaches have yet to fully bear fruit for Yenisey. While the team has displayed flashes of brilliance in isolated matches, their execution in front of goal remains a persistent issue. Do the “Army men” truly deserve to be battling relegation? Most certainly not. The squad at their disposal is quite capable, though still somewhat ‘raw’ and lacking perfect synergy. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to underestimate the “Red-Blues” when they play on their home turf once again.

Home Performance and Scoring Woes

Tikhonov’s side last suffered a home defeat on August 10th. The core issue isn’t necessarily Yenisey’s poor play; rather, it’s that numerous rounds have passed, yet the team’s predicament remains fundamentally unchanged. The “Army men” have failed to find the back of the net in three consecutive league matches. However, it’s worth noting that Fakel, despite being tipped for direct promotion, isn’t currently in a dominant enough state to secure effortless victories.

Fakel’s Rollercoaster Start and Away Woes

The Voronezh side began their campaign remarkably, securing a flawless six wins from six encounters. Yet, since then, their form has dipped, yielding just a single victory in their subsequent four matches. Fakel even managed to lose to Rodina and Ural. Their pragmatic style of play hasn’t translated into an abundance of goals, with Fakel scoring less than one goal per match on average, a statistic that certainly raises eyebrows. While it might be premature to panic, and the visitors boast a fully fit squad, these performance trends warrant scrutiny. Traveling over 3,000 km for a clash with Yenisey in their current form is likely to impact their overall performance, especially considering all their conceded goals have occurred when playing away from home.

Defensive Solidity, Offensive Deficiency

Despite their recent struggles, the team generally appears solid defensively. However, year after year, season after season, the club’s management seems unwilling to address the critical need for attacking reinforcements. Their goal-scoring opportunities often rely on set pieces or a well-executed corner, and little else. Igor Shalimov is forced to work with the players he has, and it often feels like he primarily has defenders at his disposal.