Rotor are still miles away from the top four chase this season as they keep dropping points at home. In their last outing the Volgograd side could only manage a 2-2 draw against Ulyanovsk Volga after letting a winning lead slip late in the game. That result left them seven points behind the leaders and the only way back is a long winning run like the one they had in September when they hammered Yenisey and Tekstilshchik 6-0 on aggregate. Sochi on the other hand are right in the mix for an immediate return to the top flight and they picked up another three points last time out with a narrow 1-0 win over Ufa thanks to a Zachar Fedorov penalty.
Team Form
Sochi have now gone three games without defeat and sit second in the table after edging past Veles on tiebreakers. The top of the standings remains very tight with five clubs separated by just two points so every result can shake things up. Rotor have only managed one win in their last four home games and they have never beaten Sochi in six previous meetings with three draws and three losses.
- Rotor home record this season: 1 win from 4
- Sochi unbeaten in last 3 matches
- Head to head: Sochi have never lost to Rotor
Tactical Analysis
Rotor will need to sort out their leaky defence and find a way to break down a compact Sochi side that likes to sit deep and hit on the counter. Igor Osinkin’s men are in good nick and they will look to control the midfield through quick passing and set piece threats. For Rotor to turn things around they must start fast and avoid the late collapses that have cost them points already this campaign. Sochi’s strength lies in their organisation and ability to grind out narrow wins on the road.
Betting Proposal
The visitors look the sharper side right now and Rotor’s home form is shaky. Sochi to win away at 2.90 looks a solid types while the draw no bet option on Sochi at 2.07 offers decent value for a minimum loss scenario.
