Krylya Sovetov vs Zenit: Preview
We outline the line‑ups for the Krylya Sovetov vs Zenit match in the 13th round of the 2026/27 Russian League.
"Krylya Sovetov" looks decent in big games and has a good season. Zenit has an impressive winning streak. Will the "blue‑whites" continue it in Samara?
Key moments
Krylya Sovetov
1. "Krylya" is quite far from the danger zone, but remains unstable
The Samara side’s season is contradictory. On one hand, they have climbed into the top half of the table. The team also reached the spring phase of the Cup and still has a chance to break into the upper tier. On the other hand, the Volga players remain unstable. There were great matches such as the domination of "Akron" in the derby (3:0), the win in Kazan against "Rubin" (2:0) and several games where they earned points from the leaders. Conversely, uncomfortable aesthetic opponents who play a forceful style took points away from "Krylya" on their own turf – even the closing of the "Fakel" table (loss 1:2), "Dynamo" of Makhachkala (1:4) and "Baltika" (0:2).
2. Several key players featured in the cup game
Sergey Bulaev took the Cup very seriously and used several important players in the starting XI against "Dynamo" of Makhachkala. Among them were Kirill Pechenin, Nikita Chernov, the main central midfielders Maxim Vityugov and Yuri Gorshkov, as well as the forwards Nikita Saltykov and Amar Rahmanovich. The coach gave minimal rest to the players in the most intense positions. It is expected that Nikolay Rasskazov, goalkeeper Nikita Kokarev and Fernando Costanza will return to the start.
3. "Krylya" does not lose to big clubs
The Samara side prefers to play as the second number, so some games against teams that hand the ball to the Volga players turned out disastrous – this was one of the main causes of the home failures against "Fakel", "Dynamo" of Makhachkala and "Baltika". However, against top teams, Sergey Bulaev’s side neutralises the opposition well. At the start of the season they managed to draw with the current league leaders – "Dynamo" (0:0) and CSKA (1:1). At home, they salvaged draws with "Spartak" (1:1) and "Krasnodar" (2:2). The Samara side and Zenit did not lose in the Cup – the defenders were stronger only in penalties after a goalless draw.
Zenit
1. "Zenit" showed a streak of seven consecutive wins
The champions have not lost points in official matches since 5 September, when they ceded to CSKA without playing. It cannot be said that the "blue‑whites" are shining, but the necessary stability returned with Sergey Semak. Thanks to this, they returned to the top of the table and won the group in the Cup. Almost all of these successful matches were truly tough – with "Krasnodar" they almost lost the win (3:2), with the same score twice – in the league and the Cup – they won at home against "Baltika", and they faced "Lokomotiv" in crisis (2:1) without effort. The team’s resources remain the strongest in the league, allowing them to win even with losses in the squad.
2. Sobolev, Mantuán and Diviev return to the core, Pedro is ill
In the press conference before the match, Sergey Semak gave several important team updates. Alexander Sobolev will return to the core, having missed the last round due to injury. Igor Diviev is ready to play for the first time since September. Gustavo Mantuán also returns. Vende works with the team, but according to the coach, he will be allowed to gradually integrate into the core until he reaches the right form. Zenit has a big loss – the league’s best assistant Pedro is ill. Semak relied on several close substitutes in the Cup, so the team must approach the fresh game.
3. "Zenit" does not impress defensively
This season, the "blue‑whites" do not look very convincing defensively. The team conceded thirteen goals in twelve matches – the fifth indicator in the league, at the level of the defenders who gave the leader of the defenders of the defenders, Kevin Andrade of "Baltika". Recently, four matches of the defenders ended 3:2. It can be said that the team played without its best central defender for more than a month. The return of Igor Diviev is timely, but has he regained his peak form?
Approximate line‑ups
4-2-3-1 8-4-2-3-1 80
Kokarev 47
Bozhin 23
Chernov 2
Pechenin 22
Costanza 4
Gorshkov 8
Vityugov 14
Saltykov 7
Banets 15
Rasskazov 11
Rahmanovich 57
Moskviyev 33
Nino 78
Diviev 31
Mantuán 3
Santos 5
Barrios 93
Carpocas 11
Enrique 10
Gluschenkov 14
John 7
Sobolev
Trend odds
In four of the last six direct encounters, both teams scored. O – for 1.75.
Three of the last five matches in Samara ended in a draw. X – for 4.5.
Forecast
Krylya Sovetov vs Zenit 02.11.2026 19:00
"Krylya" finished in the top half of the table and looks decent in the Cup. However, the impression of the Samara side’s game is contradictory – the team did not lose to any big club this season, and on their own turf they do not always know how to play the number one against forceful teams, so they even lost to "Fakel", not to mention "Dynamo" of Makhachkala and "Baltika". Sergey Bulaev took the Cup very seriously, and in the week several key position players came out.
"Zenit" showed a streak of seven wins in all tournaments, which allowed the team to return to the top of the Premier League table and secure the group exit in the Cup. Good news for Sergey Semak – Igor Diviev and Alexander Sobolev may appear in the core. Pedro’s illness will not help the team. The "blue‑whites" this season do not impress defensively, especially at home: four recent matches ended 3:2 in favour of the defenders. The return of Diviev will slightly improve the defence, but in Samara the team will struggle.
Forecast: 1-2
Porto — Napoli: Match Preview and Forecast for the Fourth Group Stage Round of the 2026/27 Champions League
Porto — Napoli: Match Preview We have the predictions for the encounter between Porto and Napoli in the fourth round of the group stage of the Champions League for the 2026/27 season. "Porto" surely expects to correct a lot at home, while "Napoli" arrives in Portugal with too many doubts — especially regarding their squad. **Key Points** **Porto** 1. On home ground they dominate the acceleration In the league, Francesco Farioli’s side demolished "Estoril" 4:0. Earlier, the "dragons" beat "A.C. Académica de Viseu" in the cup and "Juventus de Viseu" — both matches ended 1:0. However, European history is different: a 0:1 home loss to PSV and failures away against "Betis" 2:3. There is a contrast: in the national competition they gain rhythm, while in the Champions League they are in a situation where there is almost no margin for another fall. 2. There are losses, but not catastrophic Among the absences before the match is William Gomes: the player suffers an ankle injury and will not be able to play against "Napoli". Vasco Sousa has been injured for a long time. Additionally, the base has the possibility to distribute the load in the last league round: in the match against "Estoril" Farioli used rotation and substitutions. Specifically, André Silva came on for Samu and scored, and Veiga left the field early after a productive stint. This allows the coach not to overload key players before the European fixture. 3. The attack has found good rhythm Porto distributed effectiveness among several players and scored three times in nine minutes of the second half against "Estoril". First, Frocholdt scored in the fourth minute and helped the team take the initiative, Sains doubled the advantage, then André Silva stood out, who came on as a substitute, and soon Veiga closed the match. For the encounter with "Napoli" it is an important signal: the home side has several ways to finish attacks, and the opponent will have to watch more than one player. **Napoli** 1. Results are erratic, the defense does not convince In the Champions League, the Neapolitans beat "Budeo-Glint" 4:3, although with four goals they allowed the opponent to score three times in their own nets. In the league, there was then a brilliant 4:1 victory over "Móncita", but before the trip to Porto the squad lost 0:2 to "Juventus". Among these results there was also a 3:3 draw with "Roma". In the last five matches, Napoli had three games with three or more goals scored, but at the same time usual problems in their own goal. 2. Allegri will have to build the fragmented squad In the match against "Juve" Giovanni Di Lorenzo suffered a muscle tear, Kevin De Bruyne a ligament sprain of the ankle, and Mattias Olivera also left the field with an injury. His participation in the match with "Porto" is questionable. Additionally, the absentees Alessandro Buoniorno, Leonardo Spina, Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Allison Santos and Benoua Badiashil are already missing. An additional uncertainty relates to Rasmussen Høilund — the forward missed the match against "Juventus" due to illness and trained separately. 3. Even De Bruyne’s exit does not guarantee the usual quality Even if the midfielder manages to recover for the fixture, having his optimal form immediately after the injury would be premature. Limited availability can affect the intensity of ball work, movement between lines and the ability to maintain a high tempo throughout the game. If De Bruyne does not enter the starting lineup, the most obvious substitution would be Billy Gilmore, who came in his place in the match against "Juventus". In any case, the uncertainty around the Belgian remains an important factor when evaluating Napoli’s offensive potential. **Approximate lineups** 4-3-3 3-4-2-1 199 Cocha 4 Kiver 5 Bednarik 12 Sanu 20 Cocha 10 Veiga 13 Rosario 8 Frocholdt 17 Sains 11 Pepa 9 Omorion 1 Meret 31 Bekema 13 Rahmani 16 Zamora 21 Polito 99 Zambo-Angissa 11 De Bruyne 17 Oliveira 8 Maktoine 26 Vergara 19 Høilund 12 **Betting on the trend** In the last four matches of "Porto" and five of the last nine away trips of "Napoli", at least one of the teams did not score. Odds: OZ — not 2.17. In three of the last four encounters of "Porto" and three of the five last away trips of "Napoli", no more than two goals were scored. Odds: TM 2.5 for 2.09. **Forecast** Porto vs Napoli 05.11.2026 00:00 Porto has arguments to expect a result. Farioli’s team won their last three matches in national tournaments, and the 4:0 defeat of "Estoril" showed the variety with which the home side can finish attacks. On the other hand, defeats against PSV and "Betis" remind that in the Champions League this rhythm is not always maintained. Napoli’s situation is even less predictable: victories over "Budeo-Glint" and "Móncita" along with a draw against "Roma" and the loss to "Juventus", and the defense allows too much to opponents. An impressive list of squad problems adds up. Several key players, including Di Lorenzo and De Bruyne, are in doubt, and the absence of the latter is especially painful for construction. However, it cannot be ruled out that, without perfect stability, they can score in mass, as demonstrated in the match against "Budeo-Glint". But in the trip against "Porto", which has just found an offensive rhythm and has time for rotation, squad losses may outweigh. The preference here is logical towards the home side: "Porto" seems a more coherent option, and Napoli’s problems are too extensive to ignore. Forecast: 2-1
