Fayzkand vs Istaravshan Predictions

• Fayzkand are unbeaten in their opening three matches of the Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga season
• Istaravshan have lost all of their first three matches of the season
• Over 2.5 goals has landed in five of the six matches involving these two teams in 2020

Fayzkand unbeaten after three

Fayzkand were promoted to the Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga for the first time at the start of the 2020 season and have wasted no time in making their mark at the highest level in Tajiki football.

The Hulbuk-based outfit are unbeaten in three matches in the new campaign, drawing away matches either side of a 3-2 victory against Regar-TadAZ, and will be confident of extending that run against Istaravshan.

The visitors won their last two matches of the 2019 campaign to avoid relegation and were victorious in the pre-season Tajikistan League Cup.

But they sit rock-bottom after losing all three matches of the league season, succumbing to a 94th-minute penalty against Khatlon in the opening round before losing by three-goal margins against both Kuktosh and Regad in their following matches.

They look likely to struggle against Fayzkand, who were promoted after losing only two matches in a 26-game season last year and have started the new term in excellent fashion under Tokhirjon Muminov.

Muminov, who made 24 appearances for the Tajiki national team as a player, knows Istaravshan well as he was in charge at the club throughout the 2019 season before making the switch to Fayzkand.

Hosts likely to come on strong in second half

The hosts averaged 2.5 goals per game in the First League last season and have demonstrated their scoring ability in notching five in three already this season.

Their failure to break down Dushanbe-83 last week is the biggest concern to their backers but Fayzkand had previously shown an eye for goal and are likely to threaten in the latter stages of the contest with four of their five goals this season coming after half-time.

That is not good news for Istaravshan, who led 1-0 at the break against Khalton and were level against Kuktosh and Regar before tiring in the second half in all three fixtures.

With that in mind, the best way to bet on this fixture could be in backing the score to be level at half-time with Fayzkand going on to win.