Match Preview: SKA-Khabarovsk vs Spartak Kostroma

The highly anticipated 6th-round fixture in the PARI First League (FNL) will see SKA-Khabarovsk host Spartak Kostroma on August 24 at the venerable V. I. Lenin Stadium. This preview provides an in-depth match prediction, betting insights, current odds, and crucial statistics for the clash between SKA-Khabarovsk and Spartak Kostroma.

SKA-Khabarovsk Team Analysis

SKA-Khabarovsk’s recent 0-1 loss to Volga marked their first defeat of the current season (previously 2 wins, 2 draws), also ending an impressive 14-match scoring run in the league. Despite holding a respectable 6th position in the upper half of the FNL-2025/26 table, Alexei Poddubsky’s squad has managed only 5 goals so far, a tally only worse than Rotor (4) among their top-half peers. However, it’s worth noting their league-leading average of 6.2 corners per game, indicating a strong attacking presence.

Key Statistics for SKA-Khabarovsk

• SKA-Khabarovsk has conceded goals in five of their last six First League fixtures.
• At their home ground, the club boasts a strong record, remaining undefeated in six of their last eight FNL encounters (5 wins, 1 draw).
• Notably, the Far Eastern side has opened the scoring in six of their previous eight home games in this competition.

SKA-Khabarovsk Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Islam Imamov – Gleb Gurban, David Shavlokhov, Egor Noskov, Yaroslav Grebenkin – Batraz Gurtsiev, Sadyg Bagiev, Andrey Anisimov, Danila Yanov – Kamran Aliev, Maxim Kutovoy.

Spartak Kostroma Team Analysis

Spartak Kostroma secured a 2-1 home victory against Chelyabinsk in the previous round, extending their impressive unbeaten streak to four matches (3 wins, 1 draw). Despite this strong run, the team has managed only one clean sheet throughout the current season. Under Evgeny Taranukhin’s guidance, Spartak has climbed to 4th place in the league table, sitting just five points behind leaders Fakel. Furthermore, Spartak boasts the league’s second-best average for shots on target, with 5.2 per game.

Key Statistics for Spartak Kostroma

• Spartak Kostroma has failed to score more than a single goal in 7 of their last 9 matches across the First and Second Leagues.
• On the road, the club is formidable, remaining unbeaten in their last 8 away fixtures in these competitions (6 wins, 2 draws).
• In their previous 8 official away encounters, Spartak has consistently conceded no more than one goal.

Spartak Kostroma Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Mikhail Gaidash – Nikita Supranovich, Denis Zhilmostnykh, Maxim Ignatiev, Nikolay Tarasov – Alexander Saplinov, Dmitry Sadov, Egor Nazarenko, Ivan Enin, Kirill Chursin – Maxim Chikanchi.

Match Official: Andrey Prokopov

Andrey Prokopov (Russia)

Referee Statistics

Matches – 18 (First and Second Leagues, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards (including second yellows) – 74;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.1;

Red cards shown – 2;

Average fouls per match – 24;

Penalty decisions – 11%.

Expert Betting Prediction

SKA-Khabarovsk Home Advantage

SKA-Khabarovsk experienced their inaugural league defeat of the season in an away fixture, but their home turf in Khabarovsk remains a daunting challenge for visiting teams. The Far Easterners have an impressive home record, losing only 3 of their last 18 FNL matches (10 wins, 5 draws), with those rare losses coming against current Premier League sides Sochi and Baltika. It’s also worth noting that SKA-Khabarovsk’s home games tend to be low-scoring affairs; they’ve failed to score more than one goal in 8 of their last 9 First League home matches, conceding only 7 goals in that period.

Spartak Kostroma Away Form

Spartak Kostroma remains undefeated away from home in the FNL, though their early opponents, Torpedo and Rodina, haven’t met pre-season expectations. Facing a formidable home side like SKA-Khabarovsk will be a much tougher test. Evgeny Taranukhin’s squad is expected to prioritize defensive solidity, a strong suit given that only four other teams have conceded fewer goals this season. Historically, Spartak Kostroma rarely delivers high-scoring performances on the road, having scored more than once in just 2 of their last 9 official away games.

My final prediction for this match is: “SKA-Khabarovsk not to lose and Total Goals Under 3.5” with odds of 1.55