On Sunday afternoon, Rostov host Lokomotiv Moscow at the Rostov Arena, in what is a massive game in the race for European qualification in the Russian Premier League.
Rostov are currently third in the table, which means they are in the Champions League qualifier position. However, the home side are only ahead of the visitors by virtue of superior goal difference. It is a tight fight for the European spots. With nine league games left, the pair are also nine points behind league leaders Zenit at the top of the table.
Михаил Вилков назначен главным арбитром матча #РостовЛокоВся судейская бригада 👇🏻https://t.co/HvgooK6ehf— ФК «Локомотив» (@fclokomotiv) March 11, 2020
Михаил Вилков назначен главным арбитром матча #РостовЛокоВся судейская бригада 👇🏻https://t.co/HvgooK6ehf
The home side has played just two games since the winter break. However, they are unbeaten in four matches in the Russian top-flight. Last time out, Rostov recorded a potentially vital 3-2 victory over CSKA Moscow.
The victory means that Valeriy Karpin’s team has now won six of their last eight league games in the Russian Premier League. They have also scored at least twice in five of their last seven matches on home soil. Uzbek striker Eldor Shomurodov has been in good form this season firing home 11 goals in 21 league appearances.
Lokomotiv Moscow ended a three-game winless league run that dated to behind the winter break by recording a 1-0 win over bottom club Akhmat Grozny last time out. The victory kept the club from the Russian capital in contention for the Champions League spots.
The visitors have been inconsistent on their travels in the top-flight of late, as they have won just once in their last four matches on their travels. However, Loko have been difficult to beat on the road, having suffered defeat just once in their last ten away matches.
Their recent away games in the Russian top-flight have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in four of their last six away matches.
These two teams are neck and neck in the league. Therefore, it is no surprise that Forebet predicts that this clash will finish in a low-scoring draw.