The matchday 21 fixture in the Russian Premier League between Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow will take place on 15 March at the Ak Bars Arena in Kazan. Rubin Kazan vs Lokomotiv Moscow: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Rubin Kazan
Rashid Rakhimov became only the third coach in Rubin Kazan’s history under whom the team have managed to beat Krasnodar. Last matchday’s win over the champions (2:1) allowed the hosts to end a three-game losing run in the Russian Premier League. However, the club failed to keep a clean sheet for a fourth straight Premier League game, which is Rubin Kazan’s longest run of matches conceding in the league this season. It is also worth noting that the team scored more than once for the first time in their previous nine games in this competition. In the standings, the club have moved up to eighth place.
- At least one of the teams failed to score in nine of the hosts’ last 11 league matches.
- At home, the team have avoided defeat in five of their last six Russian Premier League games (four wins, one draw).
- In seven of the last nine home matches in this competition, the hosts have not conceded more than once.
Potential Rubin Kazan Lineup (5-4-1)
Evgeniy Staver – Igor Vujacic, Ilya Rozhkov, Anderson Arroyo, Denil Maldonado, Egor Teslenko – Bogdan Jocic, Daniil Kuznetsov, Ruslan Bezrukov, Veldin Hodza – Nazmi Gripshi.
Midfielders Ugochukwu Iwu and Anton Shvets, as well as forwards Dardan Shabanhaxhaj and Mirlind Daku, are recovering from injuries. Midfielder Ignacio Saavedra and forward Jacques Siwe are suspended.
Lokomotiv Moscow
Last matchday, the Moscow club came from two goals down, but could not find a winner against Akhmat – 2:2. Even so, the visitors’ unbeaten run in the league has reached five matches (three wins, two draws), while their scoring streak has grown to six games. At the same time, the team coached by Mikhail Galaktionov have conceded in five straight Russian Premier League fixtures. In total, the side have shipped 26 goals – the worst record among the top five. We should also add that against the Grozny club, Lokomotiv Moscow committed 24 fouls (15 per game on average). In the standings, the visitors sit third, and the gap to the leaders has been cut to two points.
- At least one goal has been scored in both halves in eight of the club’s last 10 Premier League matches.
- Away from home, the team have avoided defeat in 12 of their last 13 league matches (seven wins, five draws).
- Both teams have scored in 10 of Lokomotiv Moscow’s last 11 away matches in this competition.
Potential Lokomotiv Moscow Lineup (4-3-3)
Anton Mitryushkin – Maksim Nenakhov, Lucas Fasson, Gerzino Nyamsi, Evgeniy Morozov – Danil Prutsev, Artem Karpukas, Zelimkhan Bakaev – Dmitriy Vorobyov, Aleksandr Rudenko, Aleksey Batrakov.
Midfielder Sergey Pinyaev and defender Cesar Montes are injured.
Referee
Ivan Abrosimov (Russia)
Matches – 9 (Russian Premier League, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 46;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.1;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 22%.
Rubin Kazan vs Lokomotiv Moscow: Match Prediction
Following the season’s restart, the hosts have played two league matches that were very different in terms of performance, and it is difficult to say what to expect from the team in the upcoming game. In that sense, things have been far more stable for the visitors. Even away from home, the Moscow side rarely drop below a certain level, and in this league campaign, the team coached by Mikhail Galaktionov have lost on the road only to Zenit St. Petersburg (five wins, four draws). What is more, Lokomotiv Moscow have been the best away side this season. It is quite possible the visitors could be producing even better results were it not for issues at the back. That is where the home team’s chance lies.
Even with an overcrowded injury list, the hosts have scored in both spring Russian Premier League matches. On their own ground, the team have found the net in 15 of their last 18 league games. Lokomotiv Moscow have not kept a single clean sheet away from home. However, the visitors almost always respond in kind: the only time they failed to score was against the aforementioned side from St Petersburg. They also tend to do well in Kazan, avoiding defeat in six of the last seven head-to-head meetings in the Premier League (two wins, four draws).
Prediction: Lokomotiv Moscow, double chance + Over 1.5 goals
