Lokomotiv Moscow — Rubin : Match Preview and Prediction for September 27,2025

Lokomotiv’s Recent Form

Following a strong start with four consecutive wins, Lokomotiv Moscow has settled into a more conservative phase, recording five consecutive draws in the league. Galaktionov’s squad, alongside Baltika, are the only teams to remain unbeaten after nine matchdays. However, this impressive undefeated streak hasn’t been enough to propel the “Red-Greens” into the top three, despite the tight competition at the top of the table. In their last outing in Kaspiysk against Dynamo, Batrakov and his teammates squandered a crucial lead in the dying moments of injury time.

Home Performance and Absentees

At that pivotal moment, Lokomotiv found themselves playing with ten men after Bakaev’s red card. Ironically, Bakaev had opened the scoring at the start of the second half, but his dismissal ultimately cost his team valuable points once again. At their home ground in Cherkizovo, Lokomotiv has been remarkably prolific. In six home games this season, including cup matches, the ‘Locomotives’ have consistently scored at least two goals, a trend that is likely to continue against Rubin. For the upcoming match against the Kazan side, the hosts will be without Bakaev due to his suspension from the previous game, as well as Pinyaev, who has been sidelined for two months battling a persistent muscle injury.

Rubin’s Coaching and New Signing

Rashid Rakhimov is set to face his former club, Lokomotiv, where his career post-Amkar didn’t quite flourish. This week, Rubin significantly strengthened their midfield by signing Daler Kuzyaev, a former Russian national team and Zenit holding midfielder, who was a free agent after his stint with Le Havre. Kuzyaev’s arrival is undoubtedly a boost, but after several months of inactivity and lack of match practice, he will need time to regain full fitness.

Away Struggles and Team News

In their last match, Rubin managed a remarkable escape in Samara against Akron, battling back from a 0-2 deficit after an hour of play. Late goals from Daku and new signing Sive secured a rare away point for the Kazan outfit. It has been frequently noted that the ‘Rubies’ are primarily a home-ground team, rarely impressing their fans on their travels, which suggests a challenging encounter awaits them in Cherkizovo. Over 14 away games, including cup fixtures, Rubin has secured only one victory and four draws away from the Ak Bars Arena. Their cohesion and effectiveness seem to wane significantly when playing outside Kazan. For the clash with Lokomotiv, Rubin will only miss Maldonado, who is out with an ankle injury.