Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Neftekhimik (1st, 63 pts) held a 49-point advantage over Lada Tolyatti (11th, 14 pts). The last five rounds placed Lada Tolyatti no better than 56th for form, against 11th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Neftekhimik 2.12 scored and 0.56 conceded per game, Lada Tolyatti 0.67 and 2.38, with the league averaging 1.31.
Lada Tolyatti's winless run stood at 6. The five-game form split read 12/15 points for Neftekhimik against 3/15 for Lada Tolyatti.
The venue was Stadion Neftekhimik in Nizhnekamsk, with room for 3,000 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Neftekhimik led 2-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 4-1.