FC Nizhny Novgorod — Akhmat Grozny : Match Preview and Prediction for September 20,2025

Pari-NN’s Struggle for Consistency

“Pari-NN” continues to largely avoid draws this season, recording only three victories but an alarming nine defeats. Their form has been anything but stable.

Russian Cup Challenges

In the Russian Cup, the hosts managed to overcome only “Rostov” (1-0), while suffering two losses to “Dynamo Makhachkala” (0-1 and 1-2) and a significant defeat to Moscow’s “Spartak” (0-4). Their chances of advancing to the playoffs are slim, given they trail the leaders by four and eight points respectively, with only two group stage games remaining.

RPL Performance Woes

The situation in the Russian Premier League is equally grim. Alexei Shpilevski’s side secured their first league victory only in the fifth round, beating “Dynamo Makhachkala” 2-0 at home. However, in the subsequent three matches, they managed just one win against “Gazovik” (3-1). It’s worth noting their other two opponents were formidable Moscow “Dynamo” (0-3) and “Zenit” (0-2).

Current League Position

Their 14th position in the league table accurately reflects “Pari-NN’s” current level. While they are only two points away from the safe 12th spot, their current performance suggests further difficulties ahead.

Offensive and Defensive Shortcomings

It’s important to highlight that the hosts possess one of the league’s weakest attacks, scoring only seven goals (14th worst). Their defense, however, is even more concerning, having conceded 15 goals. Only “Sochi” has a worse defensive record with 21 goals conceded.

Key Player Absences for Pari-NN

Adding to their woes, coach Shpilevski will be without three crucial players: Farina, Krashevsky, and Ektov, further complicating their task.

Akhmat’s Dramatic Transformation Under Cherchesov

“Akhmat” has undergone a remarkable transformation since Stanislav Cherchesov took the helm.

Impressive Unbeaten League Run

The Grozny side remains undefeated in their last five Russian Championship matches since Cherchesov became coach. Their opponents included strong teams like “Zenit” (1-0), “Krylia Sovetov” (3-1), “Gazovik” (2-2), “Rostov” (1-1), and “Lokomotiv” (1-1). These are truly impressive results, especially considering they began the RPL season with three consecutive losses and an aggregate score of 1-5!

Improved League Standing

Thanks to this excellent run, “Akhmat” has climbed to tenth position, distancing themselves from the relegation zone by two points.

Mixed Fortunes in the Russian Cup

The National Cup remains the only challenging competition for Akhmat so far, where they struggled under their previous coach and currently sit last in their group. Under Cherchesov, they managed to defeat only “Rubin” (2-0), while succumbing to “Gazovik” (1-2) and “Zenit” (1-2).

Offensive Strength vs. Defensive Vulnerabilities

Despite the coaching change, defense remains a vulnerable area for the team, having conceded in five of their last eight matches, totaling nine goals. However, their attack has significantly improved. They have scored in every match during the same period, netting 12 goals, averaging 1.5 goals per game.

Full Squad Available for Cherchesov

The Russian head coach enjoys a pleasant selection dilemma, as he has his full main squad available, with no injured or suspended players.