Sokol Saratov vs Spartak Kostroma

With just two rounds left in the Liga PARI season, the stakes could not be more different for these two clubs. Sokol Saratov are already condemned to the Second League, sitting rock-bottom of the table and playing only to avoid finishing last. Spartak Kostroma, by contrast, are still clinging to theoretical hopes of a top-four promotion playoff berth and desperately need the three points. Kostroma's form has wobbled at the worst possible time — a 2-0 defeat to KAMAZ was followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw with Arsenal Tula, leaving them outside the playoff spots. Striker Amur Kalmykov has been their standout performer all season with 13 goals, while Egor Nazarenko and Artur Gharibyan have chipped in with five apiece. No major injury concerns have been reported ahead of the trip south. Saratov, meanwhile, have lost their last three matches without finding the net, conceding seven goals across those games. The quality gap is simply too wide to ignore. Kostroma's promotion ambitions give them every reason to take this seriously, and Sokol Saratov have shown little to suggest they can halt the slide. Our prediction: 0-2