Champions vs Newcomers

Zenit was the best team of the league in the previous season and they won deservedly the title, for the first time since 2015. For the new season there only a few newcomers compared to the team who won last season's Championship and definitely their goal is to win again the tittle, to become the first team to win twice the last five years.

Last season was a huge success for Tambov who finished in the first place of the FNL and got the promotion for the Russian Premier League for the first time in their history! They definitely have an excitement for the Premier League and their main target is to fight to stay in the league. They have made a lot of transfers compared to last season's squad, mostly freelancers with experience of the Premier League.

Zenit are once again the favorites for the title and they look for a win in this opening game against a mediocre opponent. Tambov are newcomers in this division and all these transfers need time to be adapted. They should probably search for the points in some easier  matches. I expect the home team to win quite easily, the odds reasonably low. Over 2.5 goals is my final call.