The Russian Premier League has returned, just over a month after last season ended. Two teams who are looking to kick-off their campaign, Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow meet on Tuesday night at the Kazan Arena.
Rubin Kazan endured a difficult campaign last season, finishing 11th place in the Russian top-flight. The home side finished the campaign with a three-game winless run.
However, a last day 2-1 home defeat against Spartak Moscow ended a five-game unbeaten run in the league. Their league games towards the end of last season were low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in six of their final seven matches.
The team from Kazan have struggled on home soil in the Russian Premier League of late, as they have won just two of their previous nine league outings.
Their recent league games at the Kazan Arena have been low-scoring affairs, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their previous six home matches.
Lokomotiv Moscow finished last season as the Premier League runners-up, eight points behind eventual champions Zenit Saint Petersburg. The team from the Russian capital will be keen to start their league campaign positively after Marko Nikoli’s team lost the Russian Super Cup 2-1 against champions Zenit last Friday.
Lokomotiv ended last season’s league campaign ended with an 11-game unbeaten run, although five of those undefeated games finished in draws. Those draws proved fatal to their chances of winning the Russian title.
The visitors away form towards the end of last season was decent, as Lokomotiv are undefeated in five league games on their travels in the Russian Premier League. Their recent matches on the road have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in four of their previous five games.
Forebet predicts that Lokomotiv will record a victory in a low-scoring game to kick-off their title challenge in a positive fashion.