Match Preview: Fakel vs Rotor Volgograd

The 15th-round fixture in the (FNL) will see Fakel go head-to-head with Rotor Volgograd on October 20 at Fakel Stadium. This comprehensive preview provides a detailed forecast, key statistics, and an analysis of both teams’ recent performances for the upcoming Fakel vs Rotor encounter.

Fakel’s Current Form and Performance

The Voronezh side secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Shinnik in their previous outing, marking their seventh such result in the ongoing championship campaign. Fakel has now registered an impressive eight clean sheets this season, a statistic surpassed only by Rotor Volgograd (9). The club has maintained an unbeaten streak of four matches in the First League, comprising two wins and two draws. This excellent run has propelled them back to the top spot in the league standings. Furthermore, the team is enjoying its best start in FNL history after 14 rounds.

Fakel’s Key Statistics

• Fakel has scored no more than one goal in 9 of their last 10 championship fixtures.
• At home in the FNL, the club boasts an undefeated record spanning 11 matches (9 wins, 2 draws).
• They have successfully kept a clean sheet in 8 of their last 9 home games in this tournament.

Fakel’s Predicted Line-up (4-2-2)

Daniil Frolkin – Igor Yurganov, Yuri Zhuravlev, Stanislav Magkeev, Vasily Cherov – Ilnur Alshin, Butta Magomedov, Ravil Netfullin, Nikolay Giorgobiani – Georgy Gongadze, Belaïdi Pousi.

Rotor Volgograd’s Current Form and Performance

Rotor Volgograd ended their three-match winless streak in the championship by securing a decisive 2-0 victory over Chernomorets in their last game. This triumph also marked the first time the team found the net during that particular run, pushing their season goal tally to 20, a figure exceeded by only four other teams. Under the guidance of Denis Boyarintsev, Rotor has maintained a clean sheet in six of their last seven FNL matches. They have now ascended to the 3rd position in the league table, trailing the leaders by 5 points.

Rotor Volgograd’s Key Statistics

• At least one team has failed to score in Rotor’s last 7 championship matches.
• On the road, the team has not secured a victory in 5 of their last 6 FNL outings (3 draws, 2 losses).
• In 14 of their last 15 away games in this tournament, Rotor has conceded no more than one goal.

Rotor Volgograd’s Predicted Line-up (4-5-1)

Nikita Chagrov – Alexander Kleshchenko, Alexander Korotkov, Nikolay Pokidyshev, Andrey Semenov – Sergey Makarov, Ilya Safronov, Artem Simonyan, Mikhail Maltsev, Maxim Kainov – Alexander Khokhlachev.

Additional Team Insights

Referee Overview

Andrey Prokopov (Russia)

Matches officiated: 7 (First League, 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 27;

Average yellow cards per match: 3.8;

Red cards shown: 1;

Average fouls per match: 27;

Penalties awarded: 14%.

Match Prediction: Fakel vs Rotor Volgograd

In Oleg Vasilenko’s debut match, Fakel allowed their opponents considerable freedom, but in the subsequent round, the team delivered an exemplary defensive performance. Given the importance of this upcoming fixture, it is my view that Fakel will again prioritize solid defense. They excel in this aspect, having conceded in only one home match this season. However, it is noteworthy that Fakel has the lowest scoring rate among teams in the top half of the league table.

Rotor Volgograd continues to impress with a series of clean sheets, having conceded in just one of their last seven championship games. In the forthcoming match, considering the quality of their opponent, Denis Boyarintsev’s squad will likely be content with securing a single point, thus heavily relying on their robust defense. This approach is further reinforced by their attack, which has remained silent in three consecutive away FNL fixtures.

It is challenging to anticipate a high-scoring affair from a clash between two of the league’s top defensive units. Moreover, historical head-to-head encounters between these teams have also been low-scoring, with no more than two goals netted in 5 out of their 7 direct FNL confrontations. My prediction is: Total Goals Under 2.