Rostov – Akhmat

Rostov looks favourites against Akhmat on account of greater motivation

On Sunday, 27 November, the Russian Cup play-off participants from Group D will be determined. The situation in this quartet remains the most confusing. Akhmat are the most comfortable. Sergei Tashuyev's charges, whatever way they look at it, will remain in the Cup of Russia. As for Rostov, the situation looks critical. Only a win guarantees access to the next stage of the tournament. Rostov did not look to lose to Orenburg in their last game. Valeriy Karpin fielded a strong squad. There were a few substitutions compared to the main combination, but obviously, the club hoped to secure at least a draw away. In the end, there was a setback of four conceded goals. Rostov lost their starting goalkeeper Sergei Pesjakov to injury. Now Mihail Tsulaja, a 17-year-old graduate of the club's academy, is to be relied upon. It will affect not only the reliability of defense, but also the construction of attacks. Pesyakov still remains one of the best in terms of quality of first passes. Akhmat defeated Dynamo in Grozny. It was a key victory for the Southerners in the group stage of the Cup of Russia. The result was achieved in one half. The team has definitely not become weaker after the change of the coach. Coach Sergei Tashuev has been restructuring the team to suit his tactics, but the results have been held roughly the same. In the league, the team finished the first part of the season sixth, nine points behind Rostov. The opponents have played two games between them this season. The opponents have exchanged victories. The game in the Cup of Russia was left to Akhmat. At the same time, in September Karpin released a large number of reserves in Grozny. The match cannot be regarded as indicative. A month later, Akhmat lost at home to Rostov in a relatively equal encounter within the Russian RPL. The hosts were better in the first half, but then they sank physically after the break. It is very likely that motivation will be the deciding factor in the next encounter. Rostov are unlikely to want to say goodbye to the cup tournament. Akhmat are not too concerned about which place they should qualify for the play-offs. The bookmakers do not particularly believe in a game with a big advantage for Rostov. The odds on Akhmat do not cross the 3.00 mark. In this situation, it is logical to assume that Rostov will pick up some points. From the tournament point of view a draw suits Akhmat completely. It makes no practical sense for the visitors to fight for a win. The match is likely to be productive. In nine of the last ten games Akhmat have punted on goal. Karpin's team is also almost a guarantor of this bet. Rostov have been on a goal-exchange streak since the beginning of September.