Lokomotiv and Neftchi met in the Superliga's regular season on 20 September 2026, with the visitors taking all three points through a single goal. The match ended 0–1 in favour of Neftchi, a result that keeps them in second place while Lokomotiv remains fourth after 21 games each.
It was a tight affair where the decisive moment arrived after half an hour of cautious football. Neftchi's Z. Marusic broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, and despite Lokomotiv's attempts to respond, the visitors held firm. By then the hosts had already seen Ratinho booked in the 31st minute, and another yellow followed in the 59th before the goal.
And here's the thing about the statistics — both sides shared possession equally at 50 per cent, yet Neftchi registered seven shots on target to Lokomotiv's five. The hosts managed more attacks overall with 86 compared to 99, but efficiency favoured the visitors. To be fair, Lokomotiv did not lack for effort, though their five shots on target produced nothing, while Neftchi converted their best opportunity.
We had called for the away side to win beforehand, and that assessment proved correct. The 45 per cent confidence we placed on Neftchi was not misplaced, especially given their ability to take chances when it mattered. The goal came from a well-taken effort, and the visitors saw the game out without further incident.
An eighth yellow appeared in the 80th minute as the match wound down, and neither side received a red card. Lokomotiv's four shots off target versus Neftchi's three tells the story of an evening where the hosts created space but could not find the net. Neftchi's goalkeeper had fewer goal kicks to make, suggesting they controlled the tempo in the final third.
The result leaves Neftchi on 48 points, four ahead of their third-placed rivals, while Lokomotiv sits on 35 after ten wins, five draws and six defeats. The visitors extend their lead over the hosts by 13 points in the table, and the gap will only widen if Lokomotiv cannot respond. In games like this, three or four moments decide the outcome, and today belonged to the visitors.
