One of my favorite teams to back, Fakel, is in mad form these days. It’s fair to call them the most in-form team in the competition in 2021. They are not just a fun sight, but are also really efficient. Fakel is a Russian FNL version of Stuttgart or Lens or Leeds - pick one. The attitude and philosophy on the pitch is similar to those 3 sides in context. Fakel’s manager Vasilenko is going with an ultra-aggressive 3-4-1-2 formation with 3 strikers at the edge.

There are serious people behind the Fakel project, I’ve also reflected on that a few times before. Director of Football Askhabadze had the same role at Spartak Moscow. His connections allowed to invite some high profile players into the club like Russian Premier League champion with Lokomotiv Moscow Pejcinovic or former Spartak Moscow central defender Bryzgalov. But it’s the teamplay that catches the eye most. Fakel made waves w

ith their opening act - a win on the road against then 2nd placed Orenburg (2-1). But they did not stop there and went to 3rd placed Nizhny Novgorod to beat them 2-1. Both of these massive results were achieved on the road. In between the games in context Fakel defeated Yenisey (also on the road), Chertanovo and Tomsk. 14 goals scored in 5 games - a remarkable number for a team from mid-table zone. Obviously, as you’d understand by now, Fakel is worthy of a higher position and if not for a bad start to the campaign, would’ve been in the promotion race.

Positive results have boosted enthusiasm of local fans as well and now the team is getting around 5000 fans on average for their home games.

Irtysh is a team with a very modest squad and they’ve failed to improve in any way after the winter break. They started the year with 4 straight defeats before finally getting 3 points at the weekend against unmotivated and generally dull Volgar Gazprom.

With the way things stand, I can’t see Fakel breaking their strong run in the game against a relegation level opponent.

本译文使用有道机器翻译，仅供参考：

我最喜欢支持的球队之一，法克尔，这些天状态很疯狂。可以说他们是2021年比赛中状态最好的球队。它们不仅是一个有趣的景象，而且非常高效。法克尔是俄罗斯FNL版的斯图加特、伦斯或利兹——随便选一个。他们在球场上的态度和理念与这三支球队的情况相似。法克尔的主教练瓦西连科采用了一个极具侵略性的3-4-1-2阵型，在边线上有3个前锋。

Fakel项目背后有一些严肃的人，我之前也曾多次反思过这一点。足球总监Askhabadze在莫斯科斯巴达克担任同样的角色。他的关系允许他邀请一些高调的球员进入俱乐部，比如俄罗斯超级联赛冠军莫斯科火车头佩伊奇诺维奇，或者前莫斯科斯巴达克队的中后卫布里兹加洛夫。但最吸引眼球的还是团队合作。

他们的第一场比赛是在客场战胜当时排名第二的奥伦堡(2-1)。但他们并没有止步于此，而是在第三名的下诺夫哥罗德以2-1击败了他们。这两项重大成果都是在路上取得的。在两场比赛之间，法克尔击败了叶尼塞(同样是客场)，切塔诺沃和托木斯克。5场比赛中打进14球——这对于处于中场区的球队来说是一个了不起的数字。显然，正如你现在所理解的，Fakel理应获得更高的职位，如果不是因为竞选开局不好的话，他应该已经进入了晋升竞赛。

积极的结果也激发了当地球迷的热情，现在球队的主场比赛平均吸引了约5000名球迷。

额尔齐斯队的阵容非常温和，他们在冬季假期后没有取得任何进步。今年伊始，他们连输四场，最后在周末对阵毫无斗志、沉闷的俄罗斯天然气工业公司(Volgar Gazprom)时只得了三分。

就目前的情况来看，我不认为法克尔会打破他们在比赛中对降级级别对手的强劲势头。