Ural Yekaterinburg vs. Lokomotiv Moscow 8/19/20 Premier League Soccer Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Ural Yekaterinburg is hosting Lokomotiv Moscow to Central Stadium in round 3 in the Russian Premier League.

Ural hasn’t been playing well, and they haven’t won any of their last 6 games, including the first two games of the new season. With 1 point, 1 scored goal, and 3 conceded goals, Ural is in 11th place in the standings. In their last Premier League game against Rubin Kazan on the road, Ural has had 55% of ball possession, 5 shots on goal, 4 corner kicks, and 84% of the correct passes. In the first half of this match, we saw 1 red card, 4 yellow cards, 2 penalty kicks, and 2 goals, one on each side. In the second half, we saw another red card, but unfortunately, no goals and the final score of this match was 1-1. Bicfalvi is the only goalscorer for Ural at the moment with 1 goal. Baklov is injured, while Emeljanov is suspended because of the red card. Ural ended the last season in 11th place with 35 points, and that is where I expect them to be this season as well. Ural is good enough to secure their Premier League spot, but that is about the best we can expect from them.

Lokomotiv has been at the top, or close to the top of the Russian soccer for a few years now, and they have started this new season with 2 wins, and still without a conceded goal. With 6 points, 3 scored goals, and 0 conceded goals, Lokomotiv is at the top of the Premier League. The last season was solid for Lokomotiv, and even though they ended the season in second place, which got them into the Champions League, Lokomotiv was massive 15 points away from the top. Miranchuk has scored 2 goals for Lokomotiv so far this season, while Barinov added 1 goal. Rotenberg and Djordjevic are both injured, and they will not be in the lineup for this match. There are no notable arrivals to Lokomotiv, but Joao Mario who was their important player has returned to Inter after his loan expired, while Howedes has retired. In Lokomotiv’s latest Premier League match against Krasnodar at home, they have had 41% of ball possession, 9 shots on goal, 5 corner kicks, and solid 80% of the correct passes. With a late first-half goal in the 43rd minute, Lokomotiv has won this match 1-0. Lokomotiv is one of the best teams in Russia, and they have won the title 2 years ago, but I think they lack the depth to compete with Zenit, and probably even CSKA this season. Of course, the season is still young, and anything is possible, but I don’t see Lokomotiv getting close to the title this season.