Krasnodar – Sochi

Krasnodar and Sochi may settle for a draw

Krasnodar will play at home against Sochi on Saturday, September 3. "The Bulls have strengthened their position in the top group after two victories over the underdogs. The southerners have even soared to fourth place. In the last five games, Storozhuk's charges have picked up thirteen points. The only defeat happened in the away game with Dynamo. However, this result is also positive. Krasnodar even played with an advantage. Now the Bulls have no significant problems with the squad. There is even some lineup for the team's depth. Star midfielder Ilzat Akhmetov's status as a reserve player is a good indication of that. The midfielder came on as a substitute in the meeting with Torpedo and scored a goal. Cordoba's leading scorer has gradually found his form. Spertsyan, Olasegun and Ionov make up a very agile attacking group that is dangerous for any opponent in the RPL. Defensively, there are also fewer questions. The club have conceded just two goals in five rounds. Now the secret is not just Safonov's confidence. Legionnaires Cayo and Ramires have added to the south's defensive ranks. Sochi are one point behind Krasnodar, but can also regard the start as quite positive. The club, after a change of coach and the loss of two key players, have held firm and lost only to Spartak and CSKA Moscow. In the last round, Garanin's team entertained in a clash with Khimki. Four goals, it could have been more. There's no need to draw any serious conclusions from this encounter. The opponents are showing a very weak game. Sochi still have a lot of things tied up with Noboa. The Ecuadorian is on a record performance chart. The footballer has already scored six goals in seven games. At the same time, five goals were scored from the spot. Sochi continue to have a unique series for the Russian Premier League. The team has scored in all seven games. This is the only team in the league with a 100% share of top-flight encounters this season. It is difficult to imagine that the series will be broken in the southern derby. The last four head-to-head matches between the opponents have ended strictly on a total of more. Right now, the bookmakers' spread is also in favour of result-oriented football, but somewhere even highly overrated. For example, the second half could be much more cautious than the first. The teams might settle for a draw, given the approximate equality of strength. You can see open football at the start. Then, there might be variants with more emphasis on defence. Krasnodar can act with caution, and they have already demonstrated that in meetings with Dynamo and Orenburg. Two goals after the break is not a guaranteed scenario.