- Team position: Gazovik Orenburg are 15th in the table, having taken 20 points from 24 games in the Premier League.
- League standing: Lokomotiv Moscow are third in the Premier League table with 45 points from 24 matches.
- Head-to-head: Orenburg have failed to win either of their last two home games against Lokomotiv Moscow.
Entertaining clash expected in Orenburg
Gazovik Orenburg welcome FK Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday, knowing a victory could boost their survival chances in the Premier League for the 2025-2026 season. The visitors, however, are chasing the title and have much to gain from this clash as well, so a entertaining game is expected.
Lokomotiv Moscow edged Orenburg 1-0 in the Premier League on their own patch five months ago, while the previous meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw. Orenburg have failed to beat Lokomotiv Moscow in two attempts, and their recent form makes them underdogs this weekend.
The home side have drawn their last two games in the league, playing out a 0-0 draw away to Rubin Kazan and a 3-3 thriller at Dinamo Moscow. Orenburg’s record of wins, ties and losses this season has been inconsistent, particularly on their own turf, where they have won three, drawn five and lost four Premier League games.
Lokomotiv Moscow have a clear edge
Recent form and away record
Lokomotiv Moscow have also been a little inconsistent of late, picking up one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five matches, but they have performed well on the road this season, with five wins, four ties and three losses in 12 away games in the Premier League.
Styles and tactics
Mikhail Galaktionov has led his side brilliantly since taking over as head coach in November 2022, forming a team that plays a high-tempo style of soccer, where fast ball movement and central overloads are used to create chances, while their aggressive pressing style often forces the opposition into mistakes.
Orenburg have a more pragmatic setup, with head coach Ildar Akhmetzyanov focusing on a solid defensive setup and quick vertical transitions since taking over in October 2025. They play a flexible 4-2-3-1, with their defensive line staying compact.
Plenty of goals expected
Jordhy Thompson leads the scoring for Orenburg with five goals in 22 Premier League appearances, and has been their main attacking threat this season, while Lokomotiv Moscow’s top scorer is Aleksey Batrakov with 12 in 23 Premier League matches.
Backing both teams to score at 1.56 is a good option for this clash, while over 2.5 goals at 1.72 looks likely, as the visitors will be confident in their ability to outscore their hosts, and Gazovik Orenburg, who have conceded an average of 1.17 goals per home game this term, will create plenty of chances against a Lokomotiv Moscow side that have conceded 1.67 goals per away game. The odds for Lokomotiv Moscow to win at 2.12 are attractive for this one, and they should have enough quality to get the job done.
- Batrakov has also provided three assists in his last five appearances, while Cesar Montes has chipped in with three goals in that time, and Orenburg’s Du Queiroz has netted two in the last five, which accounts for two thirds of their total output in that period.
