Chelyabinsk came out on top against Yaroslavl in the Russian Cup on Thursday, winning 3:1. The result keeps the hosts at the summit of the table after three games, all victories, nine points. Yaroslavl sit in fourth place with six games played, one win and five defeats, four points.
It was a familiar pattern for Chelyabinsk. They had won their previous five matches in a row, scoring three goals in each one. The away side showed more inconsistency — a 3:2 win followed by a 3:0 loss, then a 3:1 victory before a 1:3 defeat and another heavy loss.
And here's the thing about predictions. Our forecast had given the away side a 72 percent chance of winning. That one was wide. The home advantage mattered, as it often does in these cup fixtures, and Chelyabinsk saw the game out without complication.
By then the table tells its own story. The hosts lead after a flawless start, while Yaroslavl's record of one win from six games suggests they have hit a wall. Not much separates them from the teams below, but the gap to the top is clear.
The match itself did not require long analysis. Three-one is a result that speaks for itself, and Chelyabinsk's run of five straight wins shows they are building something steady. Yaroslavl will need to turn things around if they want to climb.