Match Overview

This 9th-round PARI First League (FNL) encounter between Spartak Kostroma and Sokol is set to kick off on September 8th at the Urozhay Stadium. Here’s a comprehensive look at Spartak Kostroma vs Sokol, including our prediction, betting odds, and essential statistics.

Spartak Kostroma Team Profile

Spartak Kostroma’s Current Form

In their last fixture, the Kostroma side managed to snatch a point from Ural with a 1-1 draw. This extended their unbeaten run in the league to an impressive seven matches (5 wins, 2 draws). Despite this strong run, Spartak has kept only one clean sheet during this period, conceding a total of 7 goals – a better defensive record than only four other teams in the league. Interestingly, against Yekaterinburg, the club committed just 10 fouls, significantly below their average of 16. Sergey Bondar’s squad currently holds a commendable 4th position in the league standings.

Key Statistics for Spartak Kostroma

• Spartak has not conceded more than one goal in their last 8 FNL matches.
• At home, the team has failed to win 5 out of their last 6 matches across the First and Second Leagues (1 draw, 4 losses).
• The Kostroma team has scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 8 of their last 10 home games in these competitions.

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.

Sokol Team Profile

Sokol’s Recent Performance

The Saratov team suffered a 0-2 home defeat to KAMAZ in the previous round. This marks their third consecutive loss in the championship. Notably, it’s only the second time in the FNL 2025/26 season that the Volga side has conceded more than one goal. After a three-match scoring streak, Sokol has now failed to find the net in two consecutive fixtures. Mladen Kascelan’s men currently sit in 17th place in the league table, two points shy of the crucial 15th spot which guarantees safety. Furthermore, Sokol players are flagged for offside more than any other team, averaging 2.7 times per game.

Key Statistics for Sokol

• No more than two goals were scored in 7 of Sokol’s last 9 league games.
• The team has failed to win in 14 of their last 15 away matches in the FNL (4 draws, 10 losses).
• Sokol conceded first in 6 of their last 8 away games in this tournament.

Sokol Predicted Lineup (5-4-1)

Timur Kraikov – Vladimir Kovacevic, Allon Butaev, Nikita Pechenkin, Ivan Churikov, Artem Bykov – Anton Mukhin, Ruslan Daurov, Roman Ermolin, Vladislav Lazarev – Vladislav Shpitalny.

Advanced Team Metrics for Sokol

Referee Profile

Match Official: Anatoliy Zhabchenko

Anatoliy Zhabchenko (Russia)

Referee Statistics

• Matches officiated – 12 (First League, 2022/23 – 2024/25);
• Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 57;
• Average yellow cards per match – 4.7;
• Red cards shown – 1;
• Average fouls per match – 24;
• Penalties awarded – 17%.

Match Prediction: Spartak Kostroma vs Sokol

Spartak Kostroma’s Home Dominance

The league newcomer has been delivering highly commendable results. After suffering an opening-round defeat to one of the current league leaders, the Kostroma side has remained unbeaten in their subsequent seven fixtures. In their previous match, Sergey Bondar’s charges successfully navigated a tough challenge against league-topping Ural. At home, Spartak consistently displays a strong presence, having lost only 2 of their last 24 matches in the First and Second Leagues (16 wins, 6 draws).

Sokol’s Struggling Away Form

Should the Saratov team fail to improve their performance, they face a real risk of relegation back to the Second League. Currently, there’s little indication of how the Volga team plans to secure their first victory in the ongoing championship. Sokol has already played against two fellow bottom-dwellers, earning just two points from those home encounters. On the road, Sokol is currently enduring a three-match losing streak in the league.

Our Final Verdict

My prediction for this match is:  “Spartak Kostroma to Win”  with odds of 1.62