Lokomotiv Moscow VS Akron Togliatti

Lokomotiv Moscow’s recent form has picked up notably after a slow start to the current Russian Premier League campaign, most recently notching a dominant 5-0 league win over Fakel Voronezh in their last fixture. They sit on just 2 points from 2 draws and 1 loss through the first three domestic cup group stage matches, and are dealing with clear squad depletion: two key first-team players are suspended, while other squad members remain sidelined through injury. Though their home performance is decent overall, they have lacked consistent stability when playing in front of their own fans this term. Their visitors Akron Tolyatti, who also compete in the Russian top flight, currently hold 5 group points. A single draw would almost lock in their second-place standing and a knockout stage berth, leaving them with far less competitive pressure heading into this clash. The side is famed for their pragmatic, low-block defensive style, which they used to great effect in the reverse group fixture: they held Lokomotiv to a 0-0 home draw before knocking them out in the following penalty shootout.