- Team form: Lokomotiv are the more likely winners by a few notches on recent form and odds-on at 1.69.
- Head-to-head: Akhmat are winless in their last 3 away games against Lokomotiv.
- Home run: Lokomotiv are unbeaten in 8 home games across all competitions (W5, D3).
Loko look likely to edge it
Lokomotiv
Lokomotiv Moscow look likely to win Sunday's Premier League 2026-2027 fixture at home to FC Akhmat Grozny and there are several reasons why this should be the case. Firstly, Mikhail Galaktionov has done a good job since taking over the reins at Lokomotiv in November 2022, forging a well-drilled side with a clear identity that appears to suit most of the players.
They play a 4-2-3-1 that depends on a good double pivot, support from the wide men behind the striker and overlap from the full-backs in order to stretch the pitch. A couple of the ball-playing defenders can be caught out, but they are the only obvious flaw in an otherwise tidy system.
Akhmat
Stanislav Cherchesov took over on 6 August 2025, but seems to have already made his mark on the team, which usually sets up in a three-at-the-back formation or 5-3-2 look. They are capable of situational pressing, but prefer to set up a compact block and then hit on the counterpunch, which should keep the game lively while ensuring they are not outclassed.
Cherchesov's men are coming off a 1-1 draw away to a third-tier Serbian side Novi Pazar in a friendly and a 1-0 home win over Ajman, so they have some control in their game but have not shown much of a cutting edge.
- Lokomotiv's recent form has been strong with four wins and a draw from their last five games and they are on a four-game winning streak.
- They have beaten the other two Moscow clubs in their two most recent home assignments, claiming a 2-0 win over Spartak and a 1-0 victory against CSKA, which was a nasty little statement.
- Akhmat's recent results and performance have been mixed, but they have not lost, registering two wins and three draws from their last five.
- Akhmat have drawn three and lost two of their five away games across all competitions, so they are not the best travellers and have scored only five goals on their travels.
- Lokomotiv have won five, drawn three and lost only two of their last ten games in all competitions, which is a more steady momentum than Akhmat's two wins, five draws and three defeats in the same period.
Prediction
Backing the home side should ensure profit on Sunday, but not because it will be a goal-fest. Lokomotiv's high-tempo pressing and vertical transitions should keep Akhmat pinned back and try to engineer turnovers in dangerous areas, but the visitors are stubborn and will be happy to sit in and defend for long periods around their own box.
A 1-0 or 2-0 home win seems to fit the numbers best here and there are live betting angles on BTTS-No and Under 2.5 at odds of 1.95 and 2.05 respectively. Maksim Nenakhov has scored two goals in Lokomotiv's last five and could be a late goal threat from deep or wide areas.
