Neftekhimik vs FK Sochi

When Neftekhimik host Sochi on 20 August, it's an early gauge for two very different sides. Sochi dropped out of the Russian Premier League after finishing bottom last season and are using the Pari First League as a launchpad back to the top flight, while Neftekhimik are looking to build on a promising start of their own. Five rounds in, both sit mid-table behind pace-setter Nizhny Novgorod. Sochi arrive in decent shape, having won 2-1 away at Torpedo thanks to goals from Alexander Osipov and Ruslan Magal, with Slovenian forward Martin Kramarič still their most dangerous attacker. Neftekhimik beat Tekstilshchik 1-0 through Vasily Aleynikov before a heavy 5-1 defeat away to the league leaders, though Enri Mukba found the net in that game. The last two meetings between these sides produced a 3-2 win for Sochi and a 1-1 draw, so goals have rarely been in short supply. Our prediction: 1-2