- Head-to-head: A 2-2 tie in April 2026 and a 1-1 tie in September 2025 have been the recent results in the FNL between these two sides.
- Table positions: Chelyabinsk finished just one position above SKA Khabarovsk, in around 10th on about 44 points to SKA's 11th-12th position on roughly 42.
- Recent form: SKA Khabarovsk's recent form finished the 2025/26 FNL campaign with three draws and three one-goal games.
Two good sides in a tight FNL rivalry
With both sides finishing in the mid to lower end of the 2025/26 FNL table, this opening game of the 2026/27 campaign is all about momentum. Home advantage may also play a factor, and the journey from Khabarovsk could play a part in Monday's game.
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk finished 2025/26 on a W-L-D-L-D run in their last five competitive games, enough to show both their bite up front and their vulnerability at the back. A 2-0 win over Neftekhimik got their campaign off to a good start, but a defeat to Rodina and a loss at Ural were damaging setbacks in April 2026.
Roman Pilipchuk's side are a flexible 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 side, capable of playing their forward players into the game while also looking to make the most of their transition opportunities with Garrik Levin adding a spark to the wide areas.
SKA Khabarovsk
SKA Khabarovsk are a very different side to Chelyabinsk, with Aleksey Poddubsky setting his side up with a clear structure and a compact shape. SKA's wingbacks help to create numerical superiority in attack, but it's their shape and recovery that has helped them to grind out results, particularly in the latter stages of the 2025/26 FNL.
Draw and under 2.5 goals looks the way to go
SKA Khabarovsk's late-season form in 2025/26 was patchy, drawing 2-2 with Chelyabinsk in April 2026, while draws with Fakel and Volga Ulyanovsk respectively were typical of the kind of low-key performance they have produced in the last third of the season.
Poddubsky's side are always tough to beat, but with a long trip behind them, they may struggle to get the better of a Chelyabinsk side who look good value at a slight favorite. The odds here are 2.2 for the hosts, with SKA at 3.48 and the tie at 3.28.
Under 2.5 goals at 1.8 looks the sharp bet here, matching the cagey nature of the H2H record and the general trend of the market in this game. It should be a tense chess match with Chelyabinsk's verticality up against SKA's shape and defensive recovery, so a goal at either end will suffice for a tight victory for the home side.
- Ramazan Gadzhimuradov is Chelyabinsk's biggest goal threat, after leading the line in the 2025/26 FNL, but SKA have Hakob Alkalde, who bagged against Chelyabinsk in the April 2026 head-to-head and provides a direct option in the wide channels.
- Stepan Glotov can also be an option, as he also scored against Chelyabinsk in the April 2026 head-to-head and will provide a regular outlet for SKA's build-up game.
