FC Istiklol vs Kuktosh Predictions & Tips

Tajikistan champions FC Istiklol had their progress checked by Khatlon last weekend but the Dushanbe outfit are still unquestionably the team to beat in the Vysshaya Liga and are long odds-on to resume winning ways against Kuktosh.

Istiklol started their title defence by hammering Dushanbe 83 7-0 in their opening game of the season and were professional in dispatching CSKA Pamir 2-0 a week later.

But Khatlon, who beat Khujand at odds of 16/1 in their second outing of the season, almost pulled off another seismic shock before Manuchekhr Dzhalilov levelled the scores with a 95-minute penalty in the third week of the season.

They have been underrated by bookmakers so far this season and, in time, that result may not turn out to be a disastrous one for Istiklol, who remain top of the Tajiki table after three matches.

Kuktosh, meanwhile, are also unbeaten. They drew 0-0 with Regar-TadAz in their opening fixture before hammering struggling Istaravshan 3-0 on the road.

Their most recent fixture, a 1-1 home draw with Khujand, looks a decent result given that the visitors were odds-on to record the victory.

But Kuktosh were close to the drop last season, finishing just three points clear of Khatlon and the relegation playoff place, and it’s difficult to suggest they have improved their results enough to rival Istiklol.

Manuchekhr adds firepower for Istiklol

The champions ran out dominant 15-point winners of the title in 2019 to pick up a sixth consecutive Tajiki crown and have reinforced their already potent attack with the signing of Manuchekhr.

The Tajiki international striker, who came through the ranks at Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow before scoring 59 goals in 47 games in his first spell at Istiklol, has already scored five goals in three games this season.

The hosts ran out 6-1 winners in the last meeting between these teams and another dominant display looks assured with Vitaliy Levchenko’s team motivated to get back to winning ways.

With Istiqlol priced up as if defeat is out of the question, it may pay to take the hosts giving up two goals on the handicap.