Sergey Bulatov was appointed head coach of Krylia Sovetov at the end of April this year. At the time, the Samara club’s objective was to avoid having to play relegation playoffs to retain their place in the Premier League. Bulatov achieved that objective and earned the right to lead the team in the new season. After starting the championship with two respectable draws in Moscow against CSKA and Dynamo, the “Wings” established themselves as a very difficult opponent for any club. Subsequently, Krylia Sovetov fans had complaints only about the team’s August defeats at home to Baltika and Dynamo Makhachkala. Since August 23, Bulatov’s men have stopped losing altogether. Among those who slipped up against Krylia Sovetov was league-leading Krasnodar. It was precisely with their setback in Samara that the “Bulls’” run of draws began, and it is still ongoing. On that occasion, Krylia Sovetov managed to recover from a two-goal deficit after halftime and, with the score at 2–2, even threaten the goal of the country’s vice-champions. During the break for the national-team matches, the Samara side played one friendly, comfortably defeating Akron 4–0. The upcoming opponent poses a much greater threat to Bulatov’s team than the Tolyatti side they regularly beat. Spartak began the football season as Russian Cup winners, with serious ambitions of winning the Premier League title. Juan Carlos Carcedo’s team experienced their first cold shower in the third round, when they lost to Krasnodar at home. That setback was not the last for the “red-and-whites,” but against the backdrop of their rivals’ failures, Spartak approach the match in Samara among the leading teams, just two points off the top of the table. The past two rounds ended in victories for the “people’s team,” with no goals conceded. Although modest Rostov and Fakel were the opponents defeated, Spartak’s players currently have no reason to be in a bad mood. The squad should also benefit from the signing of a new contract with the red-and-whites’ leader, Esequiel Barco. Overall, Spartak will bring a competitive squad to Samara. The team has already become accustomed to the absence of Christopher Martins and Daniil Zorin. The visitors have every reason to challenge for victory.