On Sunday, 30 July, Fakel will play at home against Lokomotiv. The teams cannot be satisfied with the start of the season. Motivation for the second round is quite high, given the dynamics of results. Lokomotiv at the expense of a near-perfect performance in 2023 raised the bar of expectations. In this regard, a draw with Rubin in a home match with a lacklustre game is an obvious setback. Lokomotiv have a lack of balance. There are fewer questions for the club in attack. The team has already scored four goals in two official matches. Almost all positions are duplicated, somewhere the competition is even three people for one place. At the same time, in defence, the situation is close to critical. Legionnaire Fasson failed the meeting with Rubin. Two goals were conceded largely due to his fault. Galaktionov has decided to trust the youth for now. Lokomotiv have a bunch of Pogostnov and Kuzmichev. Two players did not fail in the cup meeting with Ural. It is possible that now they are the main pair of centre-backs. In attack, the main player unexpectedly became not Dzyuba, but Izidor. The Frenchman gave a unique series of eight matches in which he scored, coming on the pitch in the course of meetings. In the Cup against Ural he scored as a main squad player. Izidor is in top form, but Galaktionov is unlikely to risk putting Dzyuba on the bench. The very fact of such a fight emphasises the level of the squad at the Railwaymen. Fakel are by all accounts the main contenders for relegation. The club has lost half of its starting lineup, which was already the weakest in the RPL. Last season, Fakel took many matches at the expense of character and organisation. Plus the luck factor played at the finish line. Now, from the very start they have been defeated. Fakel has a predictable defensive model. This is a typical approach of head coach Vadim Evseev. So far in two games - five goals conceded. There are no serious newcomers and are not expected, given the budget. It remains to rely on character and support of the spectator stands. The fans are a serious factor. In Voronezh there were no problems with Fan ID. Attendance is one of the highest in the whole of Russia. Last season Fakel managed to sensationally defeat Lokomotiv at home. It was the only success in the entire first round. Now there is much less faith in miracles. Lokomotiv are simply stronger. Barring the problematic defensive centre, there are no worries for the Railwaymen. Lokomotiv can open up Evseev's traditional "bus" with a variety of weapons. Dzyuba can be targeted, and if he fails, Izidor, Pinyayev and the creative Miranchuk will come out next. The odds on Lokomotiv are clearly overvalued.