Former captain of St. Petersburg Zenit and the Russian national team Andrei Arshavin is presenting the program Everyone is for the Match. The Voronezh club Fakel has emerged as one of the standout stories of the current Russian Premier League season.
Fakel has joined the ranks of the championship leaders alongside Paris NN, underscoring a remarkable rise for the team from Voronezh. While Akhmat Grozny has shown moments of promise, Fakel has built a momentum that makes the Grozny side look like they are chasing the pace set by the Voronezh squad, according to observers and former players.
On November 4, Fakel secured a 2-1 victory over Akhmat Grozny in a match that went to extra time in the first half. Fakel responded to a late challenge with a goal from Evgeniy Markov midway through the second half and a decisive winner from Vyacheslav Yakimov during extra time, sealing the win for the visitors.
That result helped Fakel record a three-match winning streak in the league. The club also defeated Orenburg and Moscow Spartak during this run, highlighting a run of form that has solidified their position in the standings and impressed fans and analysts alike.
Looking ahead, Fakel is set to host CSKA in the next round. The match is scheduled for November 11 and will kick off at 14:00 Moscow time. It represents another important test in Fakel’s season as they aim to maintain their momentum against one of the league’s traditionally strong sides.
Earlier reports noted Akhmat’s dismissal and the tactical shifts that followed, with several voices weighing in on how Fakel’s renewed energy has influenced the balance of power in their matches. The ongoing narrative around Fakel centers on their blend of determined defense, quick counterattacks, and rising confidence as they push to secure points against the stronger teams in the competition. [citation: official league match summaries]