Lokomotiv Moscow and FK Krasnodar both claimed wins on matchday 1 and now go into the weekend seeking maximum points.
Krasnodar head into matchday 2 atop the division thanks to goal difference. Last year’s third-place finishers thrashed Ufa 3-0 at home. Remy Cabella scored twice just after the halftime break. Striker Marcus Berg added a third goal in the 65th minute.
Lokomotiv Moscow were also successful with a win on opening day 2-0 versus Rubin Kazan. The Capital club scored through Aleksei Miranchuk and Dmitri Barinov with both strikes coming in the opening 26 minutes of the fixture.
The two Russian Premier League rivals have seen the home team go unbeaten in each of the last seven games in all competitions. However, last year’s two matches saw the clubs draw both fixtures. Both games ended 1-1 respectively. In each game, the goals came in the second half.
The last four matches between the two clubs finished with under 2.5 goals scored. Saturday’s game at the RZD Arena should once again see the two teams combine for under 2.5 goals.
Lokomotiv Moscow have officially said goodbye to forward Jefferson Farfan. The forward scored 20 goals in 51 Russian Premier League appearances for Lokomotiv Moscow. Now 35, the club have moved on from the Peruvian.
The club have agreed a transfer with Bordeaux for winger Francois Kamano. The winger should be Farfan’s replacement but won’t be available this weekend to play versus Krasnodar. Lokomotiv Moscow have parted ways with Joao Mario after his loan from Inter Milan expired.
Krasnodar will hope Berg can get onto the scoresheet once more versus Lokomotiv Moscow. Berg tallied a goal versus Lokomotiv Moscow at the RZD Arena last season. The Swedish striker scored nine goals in 23 Russian Premier League games last term.
The Bulls are unbeaten versus Lokomotiv Moscow in six of their last eight games. They have recorded a 4W-2D-2L record over the course of their last eight games.
Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar finished second and third, respectively last season. They were two evenly matched clubs and should once again end the term quite close in the table.
Saturday’s match should continue their trend of draws. Like last season’s matches in the league, Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar should end with under 2.5 goals and a score draw. Depending on results elsewhere, the two clubs could still find themselves at the top of the table.