Arsenal Tula V FC Rostov
Sunday, 28th July 2019 – 14:30 Kick-Off
Russian Premier League
Pick: Arsenal Tula or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Betway
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/4 | 43/20 | 5/4 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 25th July 2019 at 23:19)
Preview: Both these sides have made unbeaten starts to the season, mirroring one another to register four points from their opening two fixtures. However, Rostov prevailed in last season’s corresponding meeting at the Arsenal Stadium, winning 1-0, and will look to compound Arsenal Tula’s recent European woes by recording another victory in this fixture.
Russian Premier League betting with 22Bet
Arsenal Tula Preview – Hosts to avenge last season’s loss?
Just three days after making their European debuts in the Europa League, losing 1-0 at home to Azerbaijan’s Neftci Baku, Arsenal Tula are back in league action seeking to build on a promising start to the new campaign. But has that setback in midweek compromised some of their early momentum?
Drawing at home to relegation candidates on the opening weekend wasn’t ideal, especially as they held a slender lead right up until the closing stages. Arsenal, though, responded well to the disappointment of drawing to Dynamo Moscow first time out by managing to score on three occasions away to Kryliya Sovetov in the very next fixture, coming out on the winning side of a thrilling 3-2 scoreline.
That performance should have been a springboard for further success, only this time in Europe. In the end, the team nicknamed Pushkari rather sunk on their continental bow. As a consequence, Arsenal could have one eye on the return leg in Azerbaijan next week, which would be a concern ahead of a difficult fixture which has caused them plenty of issues in the past. In eight previous meetings with Rostov, Arsenal Tula have come out on top only twice (W2 D4 L2).
At home, meanwhile, they have only won one out of four (W1 D2 L1) versus this oppositon, going down 1-0 in last season’s corresponding fixture. However, that loss to Rostov was one of just two defeats suffered at home throughout the whole of the previous season (W8 D5 L2). Their consistency at home was a big reason behind their impressive campaign, which culminated in a sixth place finish that subsequently earned them their shot at European football.
FC Rostov Preview – Visitors vulnerable favourites?
Looking to capitalise on some potentially weary legs are FC Rostov, a team which has also made a bright start to the season and should be feeling quietly confident about the likelihood of extending that beyond this weekend. That is because of an encouraging recent record against their matchday opponents, one which has seen them go the past two seasons without losing to Arsenal Tula.
Last season, Rostov registered one of their four away league victories in this very fixture. Alexsei Ionov popping up with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 triumph. The midfielder has already opened his account early this time around, netting the second of his side’s two goals in a 2-1 victory at home to Orenburg on the opening weekend.
That result was followed by a dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Spartak Moscow, who were denied the win in stoppage time as Rostov displayed their notorious battling qualities on home soil to score late. It is usually a much different story on their travels, however, where the team scored at a paltry rate of 0.73 goals-per-away-game during last season’s Premier League.
Rostov’s struggles on the road really came to the fore towards the end of the previous campaign, when they went the final five away games of the season without winning (D2 L3). A dismal streak that was compounded by a failure to even score in four of those encounters; away to FC Ufa (L1-0), Orenburg (L3-0), Dynamo Moscow (0-0) and Akhmat Grozny (L1-0).
Arsenal Tula V FC Rostov Key Facts:
- Just three teams produced stronger records at home last season than Arsenal Tula (W8 D5 L2).
- FC Rostov won four times away from home last season (W4 D5 L6), averaging well below a goal-per-game (0.73).
- The last four league meetings has seen Rostov go unbeaten (W1 D3), winning 1-0 at Arsenal Tula in the previous campaign.
Betting Summary
With only one league defeat at their Arsenal Stadium in the last thirteen matches (W7 D5 L1), Arsenal Tula will back themselves to respond positively from Thursday’s hugely disappointing setback on their European debuts. A potential roadblock could be their opponents, who they’ve failed to beat in the past couple seasons.
Famed for their formidable reputation on their own patch, Rostov aren’t as scary away from home, with their away record last season decidedly mixed: W4 D5 L6. However, one of those four success stories did occur away to Arsenal Tula, when winning 1-0 early on. They will also be buoyed by an unbeaten start following a win and a draw against Orenburg (2-1) and Spartak Moscow (2-2), although both were at home.
Arsenal Tula won on eight occasions at home last term, twice the number which Rostov managed on the road. Therefore I cannot get on board with the visitors being favourites here. It is too early into the season for fatigue to seriously be an issue for the home side despite their midweek exertions, so backing them to record a positive outcome is the selection.
