- Player highlight: Spartak Kostroma's Amur Kalmykov has scored 3 of his 4 goals in FNL 2026/2027 in 1 match so far.
- Goalscoring form: Sochi's Kirill Kravtsov has 3 of his team's 7 goals in their last 5 games.
- Recent form: Spartak Kostroma have 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats in their recent away games, while Sochi are unbeaten in their last 2 at home (Won 1, Drawn 1).
Sochi in the driver's seat for the tight draw
Spartak Kostroma stand fourth in FNL 2026/2027 after taking 3 points from their 1 match so far, while Sochi are 9th with 1 point from their 1 game so far.
But with home field advantage, Sochi come into Sunday's game as the favorites in the odds at 2.03, ahead of the draw at 3.24 and the visitors at 4.05.
It is a bit of a tough call as both teams have shown contrasting qualities so far, so we will take Sochi to nick it in the 90 minutes because they have the home advantage.
Igor Osinkin took charge on 1 September 2025 and has brought a controlled, possession-based approach to the club, which can make them a bit boring to watch at times.
Kirill Kravtsov has been a major goal threat from midfield in the latter stages of their recent games, where Sochi have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their 5 matches across all competitions. Sochi have drawn their last 2 matches, most recently away at YFK Shinnik Yaroslav in the FNL 2026/2027.
Kalmykov’s goal threat could keep this close
Tactical setup
Spartak have been a much more direct and fast-paced team since Evgeniy Taranukhin took over on 6 July 2026 and they have built on that approach with the ability to press high and disrupt opponents.
Their direct game against Sochi's more possession-based and phase-oriented style could play a big part in deciding the match if they can force turnovers and pin their hosts back.
Key players and recent results
- Amur Kalmykov is on fire in front of goal, having hit 3 of his 4 FNL goals in 1 game for Spartak this season and his strikepower will be crucial to their chances of taking something from Sochi.
- The visitors broke their streak of poor results with a 3-1 win over Kamaz Nab Chelny in their FNL opener after having lost 2 consecutive friendly matches on the road.
- That win should have restored some belief to the camp of Spartak, who have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 5 overall.
Markets
Under 2.5 goals at 1.61 is the more attractive angle to take, while Both Teams To Score: No at 1.75 is also an interesting proposition here.
