Neftekhimik vs Shinnik

Both sides sit level on six points after five rounds of the PARI First League, with Neftekhimik in 12th place and Shinnik Yaroslavl just behind in 13th. Neither has made the start it wanted, so this round-six clash offers an early chance to build momentum near the bottom of the table. Neftekhimik arrive in poor form after a 5-1 hammering at league leaders Nizhny Novgorod, their only bright spot a 1-0 home win over Tekstilshchik through a ninth-minute strike from Vasily Aleynikov. Shinnik have been steadier, drawing three of their last four, most recently 2-2 with Arsenal Tula after Ilya Azyavin scored twice before the visitors leveled. The two sides last met in March, when the game finished goalless. With Neftekhimik's defense leaking goals and Shinnik still searching for a clean sheet, expect goals at both ends. Our prediction: 1-2