The Matchday 1 clash of the FONBET Russian Cup 2025/26 between Akron and Baltika will take place on July 29 at the Solidarity Samara Arena. Akron vs. Baltika: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Akron
For the team, this will be their second appearance in the group stage of the RPL Path of the Russian Cup. Last season, Akron advanced to the Regions Path bracket, finishing third in their group. The Togliatti side managed to defeat Shinnik in the first round of the playoffs (1-0), but were then outmatched by Spartak Moscow (2-3) in the next stage. Notably, in their last 19 matches in the national Cup, the club has only lost in regular time five times (10 wins, 4 draws).
- The team has not lost in regular time in 8 of their last 11 home matches in the Russian Cup (6 wins, 2 draws).
- No more than two goals have been scored in 90 minutes in 4 of the club's last 5 home games in this tournament.
- The Togliatti side scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in regular time in 7 of their last 10 home matches in the national Cup.
Predicted lineup for Akron (4-5-1)
Vitaliy Gudiev – Roberto Fernandez, Ionuts Nedelcearu, Marat Bokoev, Konstantin Savichev – Dmitry Pestryakov, Ifet Djakovac, Hetag Khosonov, Stefan Loncar, Alexa Djurashovic – Artem Dzyuba.
Baltika
Kaliningrad will start the Russian Cup from the group stage of the RPL Path for the second time. Their first such appearance in the 2023/24 season was successful – they reached the final, where they put up a strong fight against Zenit but lost 1-2. In the previous edition of the tournament, the club reached the sixth round of the Regions Path, losing to Ural (0-1). It's worth noting that in their last six matches in the national Cup, Kaliningrad lost in regular time only twice (3 wins, 1 draw) and conceded only four goals during this period.
- Exactly 2 or 3 goals were scored in 90 minutes in 5 of the team's last 7 away matches in the national Cup.
- The club's players scored in regular time in 7 of their last 8 away games in this tournament.
- Kaliningrad did not concede more than one goal in 90 minutes in 5 of their last 7 away matches in the Russian Cup.
Predicted lineup for Baltika (4-5-1)
Maxim Borisko – Amar Mukhammad, Mingiyan Beveev, Kevin Andrade, Nathan Gassama – Sergey Pryakhin, Andrey Mendel, Daniil Utkin, Yuri Kovalev, Maxim Petrov – Bryan Gil.
Referee
Maxim Perezva (Russia)
Matches – 5 (Russian Cup, 2021/22 - 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 20;
Average yellow cards per match – 4;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 20%.
Match Prediction: Akron vs. Baltika
Home cup matches have been challenging for Togliatti recently. In the previous edition of the national Cup, Akron secured only one home victory, which came against Fakel. Overall, in their last five home matches in the Russian Cup, the team suffered three defeats and drew once. Notably, during this period, the club even lost to Volgar.
Meanwhile, Baltika has been quite successful away in the national Cup: in their last ten away matches, the team lost only twice (5 wins, 3 draws). It's worth noting that in three instances during this period, Kaliningrad defeated opponents who are usually strong at home, including Rostov, Krylia Sovetov, and Akhmat. Their losses came against CSKA and Zenit, with the latter match being closely contested, ending 1-2.
I expect Kaliningrad to showcase their strengths and avoid defeat in regular time. My prediction: Baltika to win or draw
