#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Prior to the reporting round, the rivals played 50 games among themselves: 31 wins for the Norilsk team, 10 wins for the Syktyvkar team. Nine meetings ended in a draw. The difference between goals scored and conceded is 202:146 in favor of Norilsk Nickel. In the first round of this season in Syktyvkar, the guests were stronger, having won both matches, 3:2 and 5:4.
It is also curious that the most goals for two – 12 – the teams scored three times. So, in 2013, Syktyvkar celebrated the victory at home (9:3), in 2016 there was a draw in Norilsk (6:6), and in 2017, guests won in Syktyvkar (10:2). The minimum score on the scoreboard – 1:0 – was recorded only once, in 2015 in Syktyvkar: the owners of the site were stronger.
“Our rival is a young and ambitious team”, said Evgeny Kuksevich, head coach of Norilsk Nickel, in a pre-match interview. “Generation performs in different ways, often loses, but at the same time, there is a lot of enthusiasm and fire in Syktyvkar players. In the last round, they played with the championship leader Sinara, and once again proved that they are ready to fight to the end. With Generation you need to be on the alert. It is a mistake to think that these will be easy matches”.
He also added that Rodriguinho and Vladimir Sanosyan, who went to the Armenian national team, will not perform for the Norilsk one. Also, Ruslan Kudziev, who is going to be out of action for about three weeks due to an injury, will not be able to play. “But still, we are determined to win”, the specialist emphasized.
The matches will be held this weekend, April 2 and 3, at the Ayka sports hall. Games start at 17:00. Watch the live broadcast on the Severny Gorod portal sgnorilsk.ru.
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Text: Maxim Gorsky, Photo: Magomed Ismailov
