Match Overview

The highly anticipated 9th round fixture of the sees Baltika host Rostov on September 21 at the ‘Rostec Arena’ in Kaliningrad. This comprehensive preview offers detailed match analysis, betting insights, competitive odds, and crucial statistics for the Baltika vs. Rostov clash.

Baltika Team Analysis

The Kaliningrad side secured a goalless draw at home against Zenit (0-0) in the previous round. Andrei Talalaev’s men failed to score for the first time this season, a fact unlikely to dampen their spirits given their undefeated record of four wins and four draws. Baltika has notably kept four clean sheets in the RPL 2025/26 campaign, a league-best record. With only 5 goals conceded, they boast the league’s strongest defense alongside Krasnodar, trailing the league leaders by just three points.

Baltika Key Statistics

• The team has opened the scoring in 7 of their last 9 Premier League matches.
• Both teams scored in 6 of Baltika’s last 7 home league games.
• At home, the club has avoided defeat in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament (4 wins, 3 draws).

Baltika Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Maxim Borisko – Sergei Varstynov, Kevin Andrade, Alexander Filin, Mingiyan Beveev – Vladislav Saus, Sergei Pryakhin, Ilya Petrov, Nikolai Titkov, Maxim Petrov – Bryan Gil.

Baltika Team News

Midfielder Andrei Mendel and defender Natan Gassama are currently injured.

Rostov Team Analysis

Jonathan Alba’s squad became the first team to defeat CSKA in the current championship. Their 1-0 victory over the ‘Army Men’ snapped Rostov’s three-match winless streak in the Premier League (2 draws, 1 loss). Remarkably, this was only the second time Rostov managed a clean sheet in the RPL 2025/26. Rostov has found the net in their last three matches in this competition. The team has climbed to 11th place in the overall standings, though their buffer from the relegation zone is a narrow two points.

Rostov Key Statistics

• No more than two goals were scored in 5 of Rostov’s last 7 league matches.
• The team has not won away from home in their last 7 RPL matches (3 draws, 4 losses).
• In 6 of their last 8 away games in this tournament, Rostov conceded no more than one goal.

Rostov Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Rustam Yatimov – Dmitry Chistyakov, Viktor Melekhin, Ilya Vakhania, David Semenchuk – Konstantin Kuchaev, Alexey Mironov, Kirill Shchetinin, Mohammad Mohebi – Ronaldo, Timur Suleymanov.

Rostov Team News

Defender Eyad El-Askalaany is injured.

Match Official

Evgeny Bulanov (Russia)

• Matches officiated – 8 (RPL, 2024/25 – 2025/26);
• Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 30;
• Average yellow cards per match – 3.7;
• Red cards shown – 4;
• Average fouls per match – 24;
• Penalties awarded – 13%.

Baltika vs Rostov Betting Prediction

Bookmakers continue to rate the Kaliningrad side highly. Andrei Talalaev’s team has repeatedly demonstrated their best form, with impressive results positioning Baltika as the closest pursuer to league leaders Krasnodar. They currently sit 8 points clear of their upcoming opponents in the standings. At home this season, the Kaliningraders have secured 5 of their 16 total points. However, their last two home matches saw them draw against Lokomotiv and Zenit, with the St. Petersburg side creating only two scoring opportunities. A solid defense will be the key to a positive outcome for the hosts in this upcoming fixture.

Rostov, conversely, has earned 7 of their 8 points in the RPL 2025/26 at home. Away from home, the team has been unable to secure a victory in 7 consecutive Premier League matches (3 draws, 4 losses), yet in 5 of these outings, Rostov conceded no more than one goal. Jonathan Alba’s squad, however, appears modest in attack: the club has scored only 8 goals this season, with only three other teams having a worse record. Such attacking output will likely be insufficient to secure a win against one of the league’s top defenses.

Considering these factors, my prediction is: Baltika to win or draw (Double Chance 1X) and Total Goals Under 2.5 with odds of 2.07.

Author: Alexey Tarabrin