Istaravshan vs. Kuktosh Odds, Prediction, and Pick – Tajikistan Higher League, April 11

This could be an interesting match, and I’ve covered the details here in this Istaravshan vs. Kuktosh betting preview. These two finished level on points last season and have both picked up silverware already this year, Istaravshan claiming the League Cup, while Kuktosh triumphed in the pre-season FFT Cup. So there would seem to be little to choose between them.

The home side was the only team to lose a game on the opening weekend of the season, with two round one games being played in the week, but this should be an even battle between two promising sides.

Considering the relative parity in the league and between these two clubs in particular, it is a little surprising that Istaravshan is so fancied by BetOnline to win this one. The home field advantage obviously plays its part, but I have a feeling that this could be closer than this pricing suggests.

Istaravshan was playing in the regional leagues up until only a few seasons ago but has now added some experience to its squad in order to compete at this higher level. Head coach Alier Ashurmamadov was also brought in to provide his insight from a distinguished career, but it is Ilhom Baratov who is expected to control things on the pitch.

The Tajikistan international scored the opener in last weekend’s defeat away at Khatlon, and he should be the main provider for the front three in this round two match up with Kuktosh.

The visitors were one of a number of clubs involved in the mid-table scrum last year and will be hoping that it can burst free from the pack to challenge Istiklol at the top of the league this time around. The 0-0 draw with Regar-TadAZ last weekend suggests that it might be just as tight this season, however.

Mukhiddin Odilov is the main threat up front, and it is the Uzbek player that will be the man to get the goals if a valuable away win is achieved here. Kuktosh is the bigger club, but this game is expected to be a very tight affair.

With such a close game expected, the value bet would seem to the on the draw. Although Istaravshan is at home, I’m not sure there is enough in the squad to expect it to dominate the game. The defeat last week to Khatlon was nothing to be embarrassed about, but I don’t feel that a win will be coming this week, either.

You might think that soccer is on pause, but the Premier League of Tajikistan is not the only competition that’s still going on. Take a look at the rest of the matches I cover this week.