Match Overview

The highly anticipated 7th-round clash in the PARI First League (FNL) features Volga Ulyanovsk hosting Arsenal Tula on August 30th at Trud Stadium. This preview provides an in-depth match prediction, expert betting tips, key statistics, and competitive odds for the Volga vs. Arsenal Tula encounter.

Volga Ulyanovsk Overview

Volga Ulyanovsk faced a challenging away fixture in the last round, succumbing to a decisive 0-4 defeat against Ural. This significant loss marked their fourth of the current season (following 1 win and 1 draw) and stands as their second-heaviest defeat ever recorded in the FNL. As a result, Mikhail Belov’s squad has slipped to 15th position in the league table. Notably, Volga has already conceded 10 goals, a defensive record unmatched by any other team in the league. Despite their struggles, they boast the second-highest average for corners per game, with 6.3.

Volga Ulyanovsk Key Stats

• Volga has kept at least one opponent from scoring in 9 of their last 12 First League encounters.
• On home turf, the team has failed to secure a victory in 6 of their last 8 championship matches (1 draw, 5 defeats).
• In their previous 8 home fixtures in the FNL, Volga has scored no more than one goal per game.

Volga Ulyanovsk Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Vladimir Shaykhutdinov – Aidar Khabibullin, Kamil Ibragimov, Konstantin Kovalev, Oleg Krasilnichenko – Danil Novikov, Mikhail Umnikov, Igor Gershun – Vladislav Rudenko, Dmitry Kamenshchikov, Evgeniy Voronin.

Arsenal Tula Overview

Under the guidance of Dmitry Gunko, Arsenal Tula delivered a dominant performance in their last away fixture, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Chaika. This impressive win extends the Tula side’s unbeaten run in the First League to eight matches, comprising 3 wins and 5 draws. Significantly, this was the first time since April 2024 that Arsenal managed to score more than two goals in an FNL match. Furthermore, they kept their first clean sheet of the current championship season. As a result, the club has ascended to 7th place in the league table.

Arsenal Tula Key Stats

• Arsenal Tula has found the back of the net in their last 6 First League matches.
• On the road, the team has been unable to secure a victory in 16 of their previous 19 FNL encounters (10 draws, 6 defeats).
• In 6 out of their last 7 away fixtures in this competition, Arsenal has conceded at least one goal.

Arsenal Tula Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)

Mikhail Tsulaya – Kirill Bolshakov, Nikita Karmaev, Oleg Isaenko, Daniil Penchikov – Nikita Razdorskikh, Milon Brnovich, Tigran Avanesyan, Artem Popov, Alan Tsaraev – Amur Kalmykov.

Match Official

Igor Zakharov (Russia)

Referee Statistics

Matches officiated – 15 (First League, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 51;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;

Red cards shown – 2;

Average fouls per match – 24;

Penalties awarded – 20%.

Volga vs Arsenal Tula Match Prediction

Arsenal Tula continues their strong form, remaining unbeaten just as they did at the outset of the previous season. Their attacking prowess, in particular, appears significantly more potent this term. In terms of goals scored, Dmitry Gunko’s squad is surpassed only by KAMAZ and Ural. Intriguingly, in the FNL 2025/26 season, Arsenal has already recorded three matches with at least two successful strikes, a feat they achieved only five times across the entirety of the last championship. Moreover, Arsenal leads the league in both created goal-scoring opportunities and Expected Goals (xG). These combined factors enable the team to consistently accumulate points, a trend evident in all three of their away matches this season, where they boast two wins and one draw.

Volga Ulyanovsk faces a formidable challenge against such a strong opponent. Their defensive performance has been far from reliable, as evidenced by conceding goals in 5 out of 6 matches in the current championship. The team from Ulyanovsk has shown consistently weak results, managing only a single victory in their last 8 FNL encounters (alongside 2 draws and 5 defeats). Given these statistics, it is highly improbable that they can secure three points against the in-form Arsenal Tula.

My refined prediction for this match is: Arsenal Tula to Score and Avoid Defeat, offered at odds of 1.60.