Veles Moscow – Spartak Kostroma: Preview
We have the lineups for the Veles vs Spartak Kostroma match in Round 16 of the 2026/27 First League.
"Veles" sits in sixth place, one point behind the top‑four. "Spartak" is in fifth, edging "Veles" on secondary metrics.
Key points
Veles Moscow
"Veles" lost again to "Volga" – this time logistics intervened. "Veles" endured the toughest trip to Ulyanovsk, where they lost to "Volga" for the second time in the last month. The reason: after a flight was cancelled, they travelled 800 km by bus, which caused the pre‑match training to be cancelled. The players were tired, but in the first half they kept the tempo, although by the end of the game they eased the pressure and conceded the goal – there was no energy left for the final attack. Still, "Veles" remains decent: in the last five First League matches, the only defeats were against "Volga". Moreover, the bulls beat "Ural" (2–1) away and drew with "Torpedo" (1–1) and "Shinnik" (1–1). The squad is coping well with the schedule.
2. Volkov, Rybalko and Tarasenko risk missing the match
The biggest loss for "Veles" and the cause of their decline in results is the injury to Vladislav Volkov – a 192‑cm wall who, without substitutes, played the first eight matches of the season but then tore his meniscus. His absence was critical in the defeats to "Volga", who play a lot in the air. A month later, the second central defender, Mikhail Rybalko, left, forcing "Veles" to play with only three central defenders. Zahar Tarasenko, the team's top scorer with four goals, is also doubtful after missing recent games.
3. "Veles" is strong at home
In the current season, "Veles" has only two home defeats. The first was against "Sochi" (1–2) – the goalkeeper was affected by arrival issues. The second was against "Volga" (1–2), a very uncomfortable opponent in style – "Veles" was outmatched on corner kicks. In the other six home matches, the bulls won five and drew one, earning 16 points – the third best result in the First League. Only "Arsenal" and "Nizhny Novgorod" outperform them, as they win all their home games.
Spartak Kostroma
1. "Spartak" is losing points and falling out of the top‑four
The run of four 1–0 wins in the last round, as well as the fight for the top‑two, ended with a loss to "Shinnik" (1–2) in the last round of the First League, pushing "Spartak" out of the qualification zone. In the last four championship matches, the Kostroma side suffered three defeats and one win, conceding five goals, 6.81 xG conceded and creating 24 goal‑opportunity chances. Past reliability no longer exists. They also failed to produce good results in high‑level matches: after the July win over "Sochi", "Spartak" lost to "Torpedo" (0–3), "Ural" (1–2) and "Shinnik" (1–2). The next clash will be against a title‑contending rival.
2. Bugarin and Spachich suspended
The end of the match against "Shinnik" was intense: both teams received three cards. Two of them were for the Spartak players: Marco Bugarin received two yellows, and Armin Spachich received a straight red; both will miss the next game against "Veles". The loss is serious: Bugarin is the main central defender, Spachich is the main striker. But the main striker, Amur Kalmykov – the league's second top scorer with 14 goals – continues to score in five consecutive matches, contributing to "Spartak"'s two wins in that stretch.
3. "Veles" is a comfortable opponent for "Spartak"
The coach of "Veles", Alexei Stukalov, after the defeat to "Volga", criticised the rival's style of play: the Ulyanovsk side actively used crosses and shots, betting on a physical game, preventing the bulls from playing their combinational football. The same can be done by "Spartak", which is the leader in the First League in long passes and aerial battles won. Each of their matches becomes a fight, especially in the early moments. It is symbolic that both of the last two visits of "Spartak" to "Veles" ended in victories for the "Red and Whites".
Estimated lineups
4-3-3 4-4-1 2
Skvortsov
5
Kolosov
15
Pliyev
77
Smirnov
22
Zavyez
97
Shubin
Nikin
11
Korolkov
90
Galkin
9
Giraev
50
Shamov
5
Zil’mostny
2
Tarasov
3
Bugryev
96
Mohammad
7
Malyarov
18
Kamylov
17
Kaptilovich
10
Karaev
90
Kalmykov
13
Rubtsov
Betting on the trend
In four of the last six encounters between "Veles" and "Spartak" fewer than three goals were scored. Bet: TM 2.5 at 1.70.
In five of the last six matches with "Veles", "Spartak" scored in the first half. Bet: first half IT2B 0.5 at 2.08.
Prediction
Veles Moscow vs Spartak Kostroma 30.10.2026 19:00
"Veles" endured the toughest trip to Ulyanovsk, where they lost to "Volga" for the second time in the last month. The reason: after a flight was cancelled, they travelled 800 km by bus, which caused the pre‑match training to be cancelled. Still, "Veles" remains decent: in the last five First League matches, the only defeats were against "Volga". At home, in eight First League matches, "Veles" only lost two and won five. In the last four championship matches, "Spartak" suffered three defeats and one win, conceding five goals, 6.81 xG conceded and creating 24 goal‑opportunity chances. Past reliability no longer exists. High‑level matches did not yield results: after the July win over "Sochi", "Spartak" lost to "Torpedo" (0–3), "Ural" (1–2) and "Shinnik" (1–2). However, "Spartak"'s physical style does not favor "Veles", who turns their matches into fights. Assume the teams separate with a world‑wide difference. Prediction: 1–1
