The first playoff match for the right to play in the Russian Premier League between Ural and Akhmat will take place on May 28 at the Ekaterinburg Arena. Ural vs. Akhmat: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Ural
Sergey Tomarov's team finished fourth in the First League and earned the right to play in the playoffs. In the last round of the championship, Ural won at home against SKA-Khabarovsk with a score of 3-1, extending their winning streak to three matches. Furthermore, the team has scored at least twice in each of their last five matches. Notably, the club was the best in the recent First League season in terms of points earned at home (38).
- The team has not lost in 16 of their last 17 home matches in the First League (11 wins, 5 draws).
- The players have scored at least twice in their last five home matches in the championship.
- Both teams scored in Ural's last five home matches in the First League.
Predicted lineup for Ural (4-5-1)
Alexey Mamin – Silvie Begich, Artem Mamin, Stanislav Bessmertny, Vladislav Malkevich – Timur Ayupov, Vitaly Bondarev, Andrey Egorychev, Ilya Ishkov, Yuri Zheleznov – Martin Sekulich.
Goalkeeper Alexander Selikhov, along with midfielders Daniel Mishkic, Daniil Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Kuchugura, will miss the match due to injuries.
Akhmat
Sergey Tashuev's team finished 14th in the Premier League and entered the playoffs. Akhmat did not perform well at the end of the championship, failing to win any of their last six matches (2 draws, 4 losses). The team also did not manage a clean sheet in any of their last seven Premier League games. Additionally, the Grozny team struggled in attack during the past championship, scoring only 27 goals, surpassing only Fakel (14) in this metric. Akhmat can retain their place in the Premier League even if they lose to Ural, but they need Pari NN to beat Sochi over two matches.
- The club has not won in their last eight away matches in the Premier League (3 draws, 5 losses).
- Both teams scored in 6 of Akhmat's last 9 away matches in the championship.
- The Grozny team has not scored more than one goal in 7 of their last 8 away matches in the Premier League.
Predicted lineup for Akhmat (4-4-2)
Vadim Ulyanov – Leo Goglichidze, Alexander Zhirov, Turpal-Ali Ibishev, Arsen Adamov – Vladislav Kamilov, Lechi Sadulaev, Ismael Silva, Amin Talal – Maxim Samorodov, Georgy Melkadze.
Defender Nader Ghandri and midfielder Daniil Utkin will not play due to injuries.
Referee
Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
Matches – 20 (RPL, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 100;
Average yellow cards per match – 5;
Red cards shown – 8;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 40%.
Ural vs. Akhmat: Match Prediction
In the recent First League season, Ural performed well at home and often achieved their goals. The team played with a clear focus on attack and had no problems with scoring: in terms of goals scored in home matches in the concluded championship, Ural (30) was second only to Sochi (36). Moreover, in 7 of their last 8 home matches in the First League, the players scored at least twice.
Akhmat, on the other hand, struggles in away matches, with the biggest difficulties arising in defense. In 13 previous away matches in the Premier League, the Grozny team kept a clean sheet only once – against Fakel, the team that scored the fewest goals in the past championship. Moreover, in eight matches during this period, the team conceded at least two goals, and in 3 of their last 4 away matches in the Premier League, Akhmat conceded three goals.
I believe Sergey Tomarov's team will perform brightly in attack. I expect at least two goals from the hosts, and my prediction: Ural Individual Total Over 1.5
