The Matchday 18 MIR RPL fixture between Baltika and Krylia Sovetov will take place on December 7 at the Rostec Arena in Kaliningrad. Baltika vs Krylia Sovetov: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Baltika
Baltika beat Spartak 1-0 at home in the previous round. The result extended the club's unbeaten run in the league to seven matches (4 wins, 3 draws), and they conceded just one goal during that sequence. Baltika's defensive numbers are impressive: the club currently boasts one of the best defensive records not only in the RPL but across Europe's top 10 leagues. In the Premier League table the team sit fifth, five points adrift of leaders Krasnodar.
- No more than two goals were scored in 13 of Baltika's last 14 league games.
- At home in this competition the club are unbeaten in eight straight matches (4 wins, 4 draws).
- In 9 of their last 10 home RPL matches, the Kaliningrad side conceded no more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Baltika (3-4-3)
Maksim Borysko – Sergey Varatynov, Kevin Andrade, Alexander Filin – Mingiyan Beveyev, Vladislav Saus, Ilya Petrov, Ivan Belikov – Chinonso Offor, Sergey Pryakhin, Nikolay Titkov.
Forward Irakli Manelov and head coach Andrey Talalaev are suspended. Forward Brian Hill and midfielder Maksim Petrov are doubtful due to injury.
Krylia Sovetov
The second meeting with Krasnodar this season proved equally painful for the Samara side. A 0-5 defeat dropped Magomed Adiyev's team to 12th in the table and reduced their margin above the relegation play-off zone to two points. Krylia Sovetov have won just one of their last nine league matches, adding two draws to that single victory, and conceded at least twice in five of those games. In the previous round the visitors recorded their second match of the season without a single corner (their average is three).
- At least one opponent failed to score in 5 of Krylia Sovetov's last 7 Premier League matches.
- On the road in this competition the Samara side have lost 6 of their last 7 matches (1 draw).
- In their last 5 away RPL fixtures the club scored no more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Krylia Sovetov (5-4-1)
Sergey Pesyakov – Ivan Lepsky, Sergey Bozhin, Nikolay Rasskazov, Roman Evgenyev, Kirill Pechenin – Amir Rakhmanovich, Ilzat Akhmetov, Mykhailo Banyats, Jimmy Marin – Vladimir Ignatenko.
Forward Vadim Rakov, defenders Tomas Galdames and Dominik Oroz, and midfielders Dmitriy Ivanisenya and Fernando Constanza are all sidelined with injuries.
Referee
Anton Frolov (Russia)
Matches – 8 (RPL, 2022/23–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 34;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 50%.
Match prediction: Baltika vs Krylia Sovetov
Baltika finished the last round reduced to ten men on the 30th minute but still managed not only to keep a clean sheet but to snatch a win against a tough opponent. The Kaliningrad side look unfazed and I expect no complacency after that hard-fought victory — they will be fully focused against a Samara team fighting to stay up.
Krylia Sovetov have collected just one point from their last seven away league matches and arrive here on a run of five consecutive road defeats, four of which saw them fail to score. With those figures it will be very difficult for them to break down the league's most reliable defence. That said, after last round's heavy defeat the visitors will be desperate to avoid another collapse.
The hosts should claim three points in a low-scoring affair. My prediction: Baltika to win and Under 3.5
