The Matchday 3 clash of the FONBET Russian Cup 2025/26 between Lokomotiv and Akron will take place on August 28 at the RZD Arena in Moscow. Lokomotiv vs. Akron: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Lokomotiv
Mikhail Galaktionov's side defeated Baltika 2-0 at home in the last round. The Railwaymen have won 9 of their last 13 Russian Cup matches (1 draw, 3 losses), but prior to the match against the Kaliningrad team, they had conceded in nine consecutive matches in this tournament. However, the club has shown good attacking form, scoring at least two goals in 9 of their last 12 national Cup games. In Group D, Lokomotiv is in 3rd place, trailing Tolyatti by two points.
- Both teams have scored in 7 of Lokomotiv's last 10 Russian Cup matches.
- At home, the team has won 5 of their previous 7 games in this tournament (2 losses).
- Lokomotiv has not conceded more than one goal in 13 of their last 14 home matches in the national Cup.
Predicted lineup for Lokomotiv (4-5-1)
Ilya Lantratov – Cristian Ramirez, Gerzino Nyamsi, Yegor Pogostnov, Lucas Fasson – Dmitry Barinov, Artem Karpukas, Maxim Nenakhov, Alexey Batrakov, Zelimkhan Bakaev – Nikolay Komlichenko.
Forward Sergey Pinyaev is injured. Midfielder Danil Prutsev has joined the team.
Akron
In the last round, the team defeated CSKA at home (1-1, 5-4 on penalties). The draw in regulation time was Tolyatti's first in their last 7 Russian Cup matches (3 wins, 3 losses). Notably, Akron has kept a clean sheet in only one of their last six matches in this tournament, while their scoring streak extends to four games. With 5 points, Zaur Tedeev's side leads Group D.
- No more than three goals have been scored in 7 of Tolyatti's last 9 national Cup matches.
- Away from home, the club has not lost in 6 of their last 8 Russian Cup games (4 wins, 2 draws).
- In 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament, Akron has not conceded more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Akron (3-4-3)
Alexander Vasyutin – Denis Popenkov, Ionut Nedelcearu, Rodrigo Escoval – Nikita Shershov, Maxim Kuzmin, Konstantin Maradishvili, Soltmurad Bakaev – Benshimol, Arseniy Dmitriev, Nikita Bazilevsky.
Midfielder Khetag Khosonov and forward Benshimol are injured.
Referee
Yuri Karpov (Russia)
Matches – 5 (Russian Cup, 2021/22 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 15;
Average yellow cards per match – 3;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 27;
Penalties – 20%.
Match Prediction for Lokomotiv vs. Akron
The Railwaymen have started the season strongly. Mikhail Galaktionov's side has not lost in 7 of their 8 matches (5 wins, 2 draws), with their only defeat coming in the Russian Cup away to CSKA. At home in this tournament, the team has won 5 of their last 7 matches. Notably, Lokomotiv's goal-scoring exploits are impressive: they are the second-highest scorers in the RPL 2025/26, and in the national Cup, the club has scored at least two goals in 9 of their last 12 games.
Tolyatti has been unable to win in their last 5 official matches (3 draws, 2 losses), but the team has scored in all of these games. Akron has no issues with scoring: Zaur Tedeev's side has found the net in 15 consecutive RPL and Russian Cup matches. I believe the club will have opportunities to score against Lokomotiv, who have conceded in 4 of their last 5 home games in the national Cup. However, I doubt this will lead to a positive result. Tolyatti has only managed to defeat a Premier League representative once away in this tournament.
My prediction: Lokomotiv will not lose and Total Over 2.5 goals
* The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.
