Match Overview

The highly anticipated 17th-round clash in the PARI First League will see Neftekhimik host SKA Khabarovsk on November 3rd at the Neftekhimik Stadium in Nizhnekamsk. This comprehensive preview offers a detailed match prediction, expert betting insights, current odds, and key statistics for the Neftekhimik vs SKA Khabarovsk encounter.

Neftekhimik Team Analysis

In the previous round, Neftekhimik suffered a 2-3 away defeat to Ufa. This extends the Nizhnekamsk side’s winless streak in the championship to four matches, comprising two draws and two losses. Despite this recent dip in form, Kirill Novikov’s team has managed to find the net in three of these four fixtures. Furthermore, Neftekhimik has demonstrated a consistent attacking threat, scoring in 9 out of their last 10 First League games. The club currently occupies 9th place in the overall standings, but notably, they possess the highest number of conceded goals among the top half of the table teams, with 20 goals against.

Key Neftekhimik Statistics

• Neftekhimik scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 8 of their last 10 FNL games.
• At home, the team has failed to win in 10 of their last 12 championship matches (6 draws, 4 losses).
• The club opened the scoring in 4 of their last 5 home encounters in this tournament.

Neftekhimik Probable Lineup (3-4-3)

Timofey Kashintsev – Nikolay Tolstopyatov, Eduard Valiakhmetov, Maxim Shiryaev – Ivan Bober, David Kokoev, Danila Sukhomlinov, Giorgi Kantaria – Daniil Rodin, Andrey Nikitin, Rashid Magomedov.

SKA Khabarovsk Team Analysis

The Far Easterners secured a crucial 1-0 home victory against league leaders Fakel in the previous round. This triumph marks their fourth win in the last six First League matches (1 draw, 1 loss), and it was only the fourth clean sheet for Aleksey Poddubsky’s team in the current championship campaign. In the game against Voronezh, SKA Khabarovsk fiercely defended their three points, committing 21 fouls compared to their seasonal average of 13 infringements. The club currently occupies 8th place in the league table, trailing the playoff zone by 4 points.

Key SKA Khabarovsk Statistics

• SKA Khabarovsk have scored in 5 of their last 7 FNL matches.
• Away from home in the championship, the team has a 6-match uncompromising streak (2 wins, 4 losses).
• In 5 of their last 7 away games in this tournament, the club has conceded no more than one goal.

SKA Khabarovsk Probable Lineup (4-4-2)

Alexey Kuznetsov – Konstantin Pliev, Egor Noskov, David Shavlokhov, Vladislav Masternoy – Sadyg Bagiev, Jordi Tur, Andrey Anisimov, Kamran Aliev – Dmitry Tsypchenko, Vladislav Bragin.

Referee Profile: Vladimir Shamara

Vladimir Shamara (Russia)

Matches officiated: 5 (First League, 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 21;

Average yellow cards per match: 4.2;

Red cards shown: 2;

Average fouls per match: 23;

Penalties awarded: 20%.

Neftekhimik vs SKA Khabarovsk Match Prediction

Defensive Concerns and Attacking Prowess

Neftekhimik’s usually reliable defense has recently shown cracks. In their last three league matches, Kirill Novikov’s side conceded 7 goals, allowing even Chaika, one of the least productive clubs in the tournament, to score three times. Furthermore, Neftekhimik ranks fifth from the bottom in terms of total goals conceded at home. However, it’s worth noting that the team themselves score regularly, having found the net in 9 out of their last 10 First League games.

SKA Khabarovsk’s Scoring Consistency

SKA Khabarovsk also has no issues with converting chances. The team consistently scores against opponents, even on the road: in their last 14 FNL matches, the Far Easterners only failed to score three times. It’s also noteworthy that in the current championship, only three clubs have conceded in all their away games, and SKA Khabarovsk is one of them.

Final Prediction

Considering both teams’ recent form and attacking prowess, especially their ability to find the net combined with defensive vulnerabilities, I anticipate an open and high-scoring game. My prediction for this match is: Total Goals Over 1.5.