Match Overview

The Russian Premier League Matchday 6 fixture between FC Sochi and FC Baltika is set to take place on August 24 at Fisht Stadium. Here’s a detailed preview, unique prediction, odds, and statistics for the encounter.

Sochi Team Analysis

Current Form and Struggles

Roberto Moreno’s squad suffered a heavy 1-5 away defeat against FC Krasnodar in their last outing. This marks their fourth loss of the current season, with three of these being by a significant margin. The Southern Eagles have accumulated only one point so far, placing them at the bottom of the league table. Notably, Sochi has managed to score in their last three RPL matches. However, their offensive output is limited, averaging only 2.2 shots on target, which is the lowest in the league.

Key Statistics for Sochi

• At least three goals have been scored in 7 of Sochi’s last 9 league matches.
• The team has conceded goals in 12 of their last 14 home games in the Premier League.
• Sochi has avoided defeat in 7 of their previous 9 home RPL matches (2 wins, 5 draws).

Sochi’s Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Alexander Degtev – Kirill Zaika, Artem Makarchuk, Sergey Volkov, Vyacheslav Litvinov – Ignacio Saavedra, Dmitry Vasiliev, Anton Zinkovsky, Martin Kramaric, Kirill Kravtsov – Saul Guarirapa.

Sochi Team News

Striker Pavel Meleshin and defender Ruslan Magal are sidelined with injuries. Defender Marcelo Alves will miss the match due to suspension.

Baltika Team Analysis

Impressive Start to the Season

Baltika Kaliningrad has become only the fourth team promoted from the FNL to remain undefeated in their first five Premier League fixtures. In their previous match, Andrey Talalaev’s side drew 1-1 at home against Lokomotiv Moscow. With nine points (2 wins, 3 draws), the team currently occupies the 5th spot in the league standings. It’s worth noting that Baltika has kept a clean sheet in only one match so far. However, their scoring record is strong, with 9 goals scored, a tally bettered by only four other teams.

Key Statistics for Baltika

• Baltika’s scoring streak in the RPL extends to 13 matches.
• The team has failed to win in 5 of their last 6 away matches in the Premier League (2 draws, 3 losses).
• Baltika has conceded exactly 1 or 2 goals in 7 of their last 9 away games in this tournament.

Baltika’s Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Maxim Borisko – Sergey Varatinov, Kevin Andrade, Natan Gassam, Mingiyan Beveev – Vladislav Saus, Yuri Kovalev, Ilya Petrov, Nikolay Titkov, Maxim Petrov – Bryan Gil.

Baltika Team News

Midfielder Irakli Manelov has joined the squad. His midfield colleague Andrey Mendel was substituted in the last match due to injury.

Match Official

Referee Details

Anton Frolov (Russia)

Referee’s Statistics

Matches officiated – 6 (RPL, 2021/22 – 2022/23);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 23;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;

Red cards shown – 2;

Average fouls per match – 18;

Penalties awarded – 50%.

Match Prediction: Sochi vs Baltika

Analyzing the Opponents’ Prospects

This clash between two former FNL teams does not bode well for Sochi. Roberto Moreno’s side has secured only one point, which came against a struggling Dynamo Moscow at the start of the season. The team has already conceded 15 goals, and Sochi’s attack has so far been unable to compensate for their defensive shortcomings. The Southern Eagles have created only 10 goal-scoring opportunities, which is the worst record in the tournament. In comparison, Baltika’s figure is three times higher. Furthermore, Sochi has not won in 5 of their last 6 home RPL matches (3 draws, 2 losses).

Baltika’s Strong Performance

The Kaliningrad side was the first team to take points from Lokomotiv in the current championship. Moreover, Baltika is one of only three clubs yet to lose in the RPL 2025/26 season. Andrey Talalaev’s team looks strong in attack and allows very little to their opponents defensively.

Head-to-Head & Final Verdict

In the previous First League season, Baltika earned 4 points against Sochi. Baltika has strong chances of achieving a positive outcome this time as well. My prediction: Baltika with a (0) handicap with odds of 1.60

Author Details

Author:  Alexey Tarabrin