Salavat Yulaev UFA vs AK Bars Kazan Prediction 20 December 2025
🔊 It's time for another "green" derby in the KHL. Salavat Yulaev Ufa are set to host Ak Bars Kazan on their home ice. This matchup is always charged with emotions, regardless of the teams' standings in the league table. The hosts are still pushing to break into the top-8 of the East, while the visitors are firmly holding their ground among the conference leaders.
Head-to-Head
This season, the rivals have clashed four times already, with Ak Bars holding a 3-1 advantage in victories. It's worth noting that none of these encounters extended beyond regulation time, and both teams have displayed rather modest offensive play. More than five goals were scored in only one of these matchups during this stretch. Emotions clearly overshadow the gameplay in this derby.
Head-to-head statistics Salavat Yulaev UFA - AK Bars Kazan
Salavat Yulaev UFA Team Overview
Viktor Kozlov's squad have shown significant improvement since the third decade of November, yet they still struggle to find consistency. The hosts have secured five wins in their last eight matches. Despite this, it hasn't been enough to climb to the eighth spot in the Eastern standings. However, the tight competition in this part of the table keeps their hopes for progress alive. Nonetheless, their scoring issues remain a concern. With only 91 goals to their name, they fall short compared to the conference leaders.
Match Results: Salavat Yulaev UFA
AK Bars Kazan Team Overview
The club from the capital of Tatarstan shows no signs of slowing down. The visitors have secured five wins in their last seven matches, confidently holding second place in the East. Statistically, Anvar Gatiyatulin's squad lives up to their position. They have scored 114 goals while conceding 99. Even minor setbacks do not derail the team; they continue to play systematically with effective pressure in the opponent's zone. There are absolutely no signs of a downturn on the horizon.
Match Results: AK Bars Kazan
🏒 Projected Lineups
Salavat Yulaev: Vyazovoy - Stewart, Zorkin - Brossoit, Rodwald, Yan
Ak Bars: Arefyev - Lyamkin, Miller - Barabanov, Semyonov, Yashkin
🥅 Goalkeepers
Salavat Yulaev's goaltender Semyon Vyazovoy is back to showcasing elite performance after a brief slump. At just 22 years old, the homegrown talent displays maturity beyond his years. He boasts an impressive save percentage of 92.6% and has recorded one shutout.
Ak Bars' netminder Maxim Arefyev is gradually adjusting to the KHL. This season, the local product has already appeared in four games and has shown commendable form. He maintains a save percentage of 91.6% and has secured several crucial victories.
Editorial Prediction
This is one of the most intense derbies in the KHL, and recent years have shown a clear trend towards lower scoring games. In fact, 14 of the last 15 head-to-head clashes in Ufa have seen no more than five goals scored. Additionally, a similar pattern is evident in 13 of Ak Bars' last 14 matches, as the visitors increasingly focus on defense. We believe these factors will play out in the upcoming game, keeping the trend alive. Our bet is on total under 5.5 goals.No comments
Betting Tips: Salavat Yulaev UFA - AK Bars Kazan
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