On Saturday, 9 November, Dinamo Makhachkala will play at home against Orenburg. An important confrontation from the point of view of the fight for survival. The guests, despite the appointment of Vladimir Slishkovich, occupy the last position in the league and have not won a single match with the new coach so far.

Last round Dinamo's legendary series on the under-total was interrupted. The team was the world leader in the number of consecutive games with two or fewer goals. It failed to hold out against Zenit. Makhachkala looked very decent but lost with a score of 1:2. An important detail: three leading defence players were absent. Now the key centre-back Valentin Paltsev returns to the squad. This will obviously contribute to greater reliability.

The main headache of Hasanbi Bidzhiev is the attack. The forwards almost never score. The average efficiency is less than a goal per game, and the team is the worst in the league in terms of xG by a margin. There is almost no room for progress here. In attack, objectively, the players are weak players of the First League level at best. We can only hope for winter reinforcements.

Orenburg, on the contrary, surprises from the negative side. The composition of the team allows to fight for places at least in the top ten. If we take the total transfer value of performers, Slishkovic's wards are ten million euros ahead of Makhachkala.

The new coach has a complete failure in the RPL so far: one point in three matches. Questions are being asked about the resignation of David Deograsia. It certainly did not get better. Orenburg are the worst in the last three matches in terms of danger at their own goal. But Vladimir Slishkovic was brought in to strengthen the defence. We can say that the new coach is already in danger of resigning.

The rivals have never met each other before. This is the first game in the championship, the clubs have not met in the Cup.

In the bookmakers' line Orenburg is ranked far below Makhachkala. There are questions about this status. The hosts will still be without their two main defenders Dzhemal Tabidze and Aleksandr Sandrachuk. Orenburg, on the contrary, do not have such colossal losses. The visitors will be highly motivated - the team will definitely play with an eye on victory. For the presumed underdog and the form of Saeed Saharkhizan. The Iranian footballer stands out strongly even in matches with top clubs.

It looks like a game of two equal teams. Makhachkala definitely do not have an advantage. Plus, Dinamo is not used to play second number. It is easier for the club to play from the opponent - on counterattacks and standard positions. Probably, even Orenburg will have an advantage in possession here.