Neftekhimik vs Shinnik

Neftekhimik and Shinnik Yaroslavl played out a goalless draw in Nizhnekamsk on Saturday in Round 26 of the PARI First League. Neither side could find a breakthrough in a tight, cagey encounter between two of the division's most draw-prone sides. Shinnik's vaunted set-piece game — responsible for a remarkable 77% of their league goals this season — was largely kept quiet by a disciplined home defence. Centre-back Daniil Kornyushin, the visitors' unlikely top scorer with six goals from 23 appearances, was unable to add to his impressive tally. The stalemate leaves Neftekhimik eighth on 36 points, still within touching distance of the promotion playoffs. Shinnik sit eleventh on 33 points, comfortable above the drop zone but stuck in a rut — this was their third consecutive draw. Coach Artem Buloychik's side will need to start converting those set-piece opportunities into wins if they harbour any ambitions of climbing the table in the final stretch of the season.