Shinnik — Neftekhimik : Match Preview and Prediction for October 15,2025

Shinnik couldn’t bounce back from their 1-3 away loss against SKA-Khabarovsk, as they then suffered another defeat at home, this time 0-1 to Fakel.While the stumble against SKA-Khabarovsk might be somewhat justified by the arduous journey to the Far East, the subsequent defeat to Fakel could be attributed to the crucial absence of Oleg Lanin. Nevertheless, these remain mere justifications. The outcome is clear, positioning them currently at tenth place in the FNL league table.The home side comfortably advanced in the previous round, securing a dominant 4-1 victory over Cherepovets. Shinnik is undoubtedly motivated to improve upon their showing from last year’s competition, where they reached the Regions’ Path playoffs but were narrowly defeated 0-1 by Akron.

Not long ago, Neftekhimik was enjoying an impressive six-game unbeaten run across all tournaments. However, just four days prior, they surprisingly succumbed to a 2-3 home defeat against Chayka, considered the weakest team in the league.The visitors’ October hasn’t started optimally; in addition to that recent loss, they also registered a 0-0 draw against Rotor. This could signal the onset of a downturn, which might have been anticipated after their highly productive September. After an unexpected 1-5 thrashing by Rodina, Neftekhimik went on to win four of their subsequent five fixtures: Ural (1-1), Yenisey (1-0), Volga (4-1), Volgar (1-1, penalties: 4-2), and Arsenal Tula (1-0).The visiting side also possesses strong motivation for this Cup fixture. Beyond the obvious ambition of hosting a Russian Premier League opponent in Nizhnekamsk, they are eager to redeem themselves for last season’s disappointing early exit in the fourth round against Kompozit (0-0, penalties: 2-4).