- Home form: FK Fakel Voronezh are 10 wins, 3 ties and 1 defeat from 14 home matches in FNL 2025/2026
- Recent streaks: YFK Shinnik Yaroslav are unbeaten in 5 matches (Won 2, Drawn 3)
- Head-to-head: Fakel won the last meeting between the clubs 1-0
Pragmatic clash of styles could end in a home victory
FNL 2025/2026 table-toppers FK Fakel Voronezh can take a big step towards promotion with a win over YFK Shinnik Yaroslav on Wednesday. Fakel have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches, but their recent form has dipped with a 2-match losing streak coming into this game.
Their last two losses were a 1-3 home defeat to Rodina and a 2-0 defeat at Chayka. Oleg Vasilenko’s men have been incredibly solid and pragmatic at home this season where they have scored just 19 goals in 14 matches, but their 59 points from 29 matches means they will still be in contention for promotion regardless of the outcome.
Their compact 3-5-2 system is geared around quick transitions and high-intensity pressing. Artem Buloychik has done a solid job since being appointed in April, instilling a structure to his players that has allowed them to be patient in possession, play through the width and press in an organized way.
His team come into this fixture in good form with a two-game winning streak, including a 2-0 victory at Arsenal Tula and a 1-0 away win at Volga Ulyanovsk last time out. Shinnik are 9th in the FNL 2025/2026 with 39 points after 29 games, a respectable tally that should ensure mid-table safety.
Shinnik set up to be tough to break down
Previous meeting
These clubs had a close encounter in the away game in FNL 2025/2026 when Fakel edged them 0-1, but this fixture has a different feel to it because of the gap between the two clubs.
Away form
Shinnik’s overall away record is not great (Won 2, Drawn 7, Lost 5 from 14) and they have not been as convincing as their recent results suggest. Shinnik average only 0.57 goals scored and 1.00 goals conceded per away game in FNL 2025/2026, so they won’t be too adventurous when they travel to Voronezh. Shinnik have won 1 and drawn 2 of their last three away games.
Key threats
Fakel’s top-scorer Pusi Belaidi is a threat to any defense with 15 goals in 27 FNL 2025/2026 appearances and there are a number of other goal-getters in the team, including Maksim Turishchev, who has scored 3 of Fakel’s last 5.
Fakel can win at home
The 1.55 about a Fakel win at home looks a touch short, but there are plenty of reasons to take it anyway. Both teams not to score and Under 2.5 goals at 1.64 make sense because of how solid both defenses are, but BTTS-No at 1.54 is preferred here as the most likely outcome.
Shinnik’s top-scorer Daniil Kornyushin has 6 goals in FNL 2025/2026, while Artur Galoyan has hit a hot streak for the visitors with three of Shinnik’s last five goals. A solid home win to nil seems the most probable outcome, although it could easily be a 1-0 game because Fakel have failed to win their last 2 home games and Shinnik are good at frustrating their opponents away from home.
- Shinnik’s top-scorer Daniil Kornyushin has 6 goals in FNL 2025/2026, while Artur Galoyan has hit a hot streak for the visitors with three of Shinnik’s last five goals.
- A solid home win to nil seems the most probable outcome, although it could easily be a 1-0 game because Fakel have failed to win their last 2 home games and Shinnik are good at frustrating their opponents away from home.
