Match Preview
The upcoming 6th-round fixture of the 2025/26 will see Rubin host Akhmat on October 22 at Kazan’s Ak Bars Arena. This article provides a detailed match preview, including a prediction, betting odds, and key statistics for the Rubin vs. Akhmat encounter.
Rubin Kazan’s Recent Form
Rubin Kazan enters this match following a 0-1 home defeat to Zenit in the last round. Rashid Rakhimov’s side has struggled offensively in the , failing to score in four consecutive fixtures and managing only one point over that stretch.
Tournament Standings and Goal-Scoring Woes
The club is now out of contention for the RPL Path and will only secure third place in the group with a victory, even if it comes via penalties. Notably, Rubin has the weakest attack in their group, having scored only two goals so far.
- Defensively, Rubin has been robust, keeping at least one opponent scoreless in 16 of their last encounters.
- However, their home form in the tournament has been inconsistent, with the team failing to win in 5 of their last 7 matches (two draws and three losses in regulation time).
- Despite this, they’ve demonstrated defensive resilience at home, conceding no more than one goal in their last 12 home fixtures.
Rubin’s Defensive Strengths and Home Record
Rubin Kazan: Predicted Lineup and Injuries
Rubin’s likely starting XI, featuring a 4-5-1 formation, includes: Artur Nigmatullin; Anderson Arroyo, Ilya Rozhkov, Igor Vujačic, Konstantin Nizhegorodov; Marat Apshatsev, Oleg Ivanov, Ruslan Bezrukov, Bogdan Jočić, Dardan Shabanhaxhaj; Mirlind Daku.
Team News: Key Absences for Rubin
The Kazan squad faces several injury concerns, with defenders Denil Maldonado, Aleksey Gritsaenko, and Igor Vujačic, alongside midfielder Anton Shvets, all sidelined.
Akhmat Grozny’s Current Form
Akhmat Grozny also suffered a 0-1 home defeat in their last outing against Orenburg. This marks their fifth loss in the last six fixtures (with just one win).
Offensive Resilience and Playoff Hopes
Despite their losses, Akhmat has shown some consistency in front of goal, finding the net in four consecutive tournament matches. Stanislav Cherchesov’s squad desperately needs a victory against Rubin to keep their trophy aspirations alive. Historically, Akhmat has a poor record against Rubin on their home ground, losing six of their last seven RPL encounters there.
- In the , they have a tendency to concede one or two goals, doing so in seven of their last eight matches.
- Their away form in this competition is also concerning, with six losses in their last eight away games (two wins).
- Nevertheless, Akhmat has managed to score in five of their last seven away fixtures.
Akhmat’s Away Performance and Head-to-Head Record
Akhmat Grozny: Predicted Lineup
Akhmat’s anticipated starting lineup, also in a 4-5-1 formation, is expected to be: Vadim Ulyanov; Nader Ghandri, Darko Todorović, Rizvan Utsiev, Mehdi Zare; Ismael Silva, Bryan Mansilla, Lechi Sadulaev, Turpal-Ali Iishev, Rifat Zhemaletdinov; Mohamed Konate.
Match Referee: Sergey Cheban
The match will be officiated by Russian referee Sergey Cheban.
Sergey Cheban: Refereeing Statistics
His statistics from 5 matches (2024/25 – 2025/26) show he has issued 15 yellow cards (averaging 3 per match), 1 red card, and calls an average of 27 fouls per game. Notably, 80% of his decisions have resulted in penalties.
Match Prediction: Rubin vs. Akhmat
Akhmat’s sole victory in the current campaign came against Rubin. However, replicating that success away from home appears highly improbable for Akhmat.
Akhmat’s Away Struggles
Akhmat has a concerning record on the road in the , having lost five of their last six away fixtures. Their overall away performance in official matches has been dismal, with just one win, five draws, and ten losses in their previous 16 outings. Moreover, Akhmat hasn’t secured a victory in Kazan since 2017.
Rubin’s Home Strength and Defensive Prowess
Despite a challenging period for Rashid Rakhimov’s side, Rubin remains a formidable opponent on home soil. They have avoided defeat in 15 of their last 17 home matches across the RPL and (12 wins, 3 draws). This strong home record is largely attributed to their reliable defense, which rarely allows opponents to score more than once; only two of those matches saw Rubin net more than two goals themselves.
Final Betting Tip
Considering Rubin’s defensive solidity at home and Akhmat’s struggles to score consistently on the road (often limited to a single goal), Akhmat will find it tough to break through. My final prediction is: Rubin will not lose, and the total goals will be Under 3.5. The odds for this outcome are 1.75.
* For each team, the starting lineup from their previous match in this tournament is indicated.
Rory Whitfield
