The second-leg quarter-final tie (Regions Path) of the FONBET Russian Cup 2025/26 between Baltika Kaliningrad and Zenit St. Petersburg will take place on 3 March at the Rostec Arena in Kaliningrad. Baltika Kaliningrad vs Zenit St. Petersburg: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Baltika Kaliningrad
The hosts beat Torpedo away from home in the previous round (2:0). That was just the team’s second win in normal time in the current Russian Cup campaign (one draw, four defeats), but it is worth noting that Andrey Talalaev’s men have scored in five matches during that spell. In addition, Baltika Kaliningrad have kept a clean sheet only for the second time in their last eight games in the national cup. Now the club face Zenit St. Petersburg, a side Baltika Kaliningrad have not beaten at official level in the 21st century.
- The team have not scored more than once in six of their previous nine Russian Cup matches.
- On home soil in this tournament, Baltika Kaliningrad have failed to win five of their last seven matches (one draw, four defeats).
- At least one of the sides failed to score in five of the last seven home Russian Cup matches involving Baltika Kaliningrad.
Potential Baltika Kaliningrad Lineup (4-5-1)*
Maksim Borisko – Sergey Varatynov, Kevin Andrade, Nathan Gassama, Mikhail Ryadno – Mingiyan Beveev, Maksim Petrov, Ivan Belikov, Andrey Mendel, Nikolay Titkov – Brian Gil.
Zenit St. Petersburg
The visitors dropped into the lower bracket of the tournament after their tie against Dynamo Moscow. Having lost at home (1:3), the team won the return leg by the narrowest of margins. Notably, that is the only defeat for Sergey Semak’s men in their last eight matches in the national cup (seven wins). Moreover, in three of their previous four games in this tournament, the club have kept a clean sheet. It is worth recalling that last season Zenit St. Petersburg reached the final of the RPL Path.
- The team have scored at least twice in six of their last eight Russian Cup matches.
- Away from home, Zenit St. Petersburg have won seven of their previous eight matches in the national cup.
- In 11 of the club’s last 13 away games in this tournament, they have not conceded more than once.
Potential Zenit St. Petersburg Lineup (4-5-1)*
Denis Adamov – Igor Diveev, Douglas Santos, Nino, Gustavo Mantuan – John John, Pedro Henrique, Maksim Glushenkov, Wendel, Wilmar Barrios – John Duran.
Baltika Kaliningrad vs Zenit St. Petersburg: Match Prediction
The sides kicked off the RPL round after the season resumed, and they will meet again in the first Russian Cup match of 2026. In Saint Petersburg, Zenit St. Petersburg had the edge, but Baltika Kaliningrad also caused Sergey Semak’s men problems. In the end, the match was decided by a single goal. We are confident the opponents will not deliver a glut of goals this time either. Andrey Talalaev’s side have been almost flawless defensively at home. Across their last seven home matches in the RPL, the club have conceded just one goal. That run also includes a goalless draw with Zenit St. Petersburg.
Baltika Kaliningrad do not score many, while Zenit St. Petersburg are also likely to take control of possession. The visitors rarely make full use of that dominance. Yes, opponents find it difficult to breach Sergey Semak’s men, but the team themselves also rarely produce a goal-filled display. That was evident in the recent meeting, and away from home in the Russian Cup the club have not scored more than once in eight of their last 11 matches.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match is listed.
