Just two points separate Neftchi and Pakhtakor with six rounds remaining in the Uzbekistan Super League. The Fergana side boast the league’s highest-scoring attack, while Pakhtakor have lost only once all season. Now the two title contenders meet in a match that could reshape the championship race. The battle further down the table is just as tight, with only two points separating fourth and seventh, while the relegation picture has already started to change.
Matchday 25 runs from 22 to 26 October. Together with 888STARZ, we look at the key fixtures, recent form and the results that could shape the final weeks of the season.
Pakhtakor vs Neftchi: Two Points Between the Title Contenders
23 October | 2nd vs 1st
The biggest match of the round takes place in Tashkent. Neftchi have 55 points from 24 matches, two more than Pakhtakor. A home win would send Pakhtakor top, while victory for the visitors would extend their lead to five points.
Neftchi have the best attack in the league, with 56 goals scored and 21 conceded. They beat Kokand-1912 4-2 in their previous match, while Stipe Perica, with 13 goals, remains firmly in contention for the Golden Boot.
Pakhtakor’s strength lies elsewhere. They have lost just once in the entire league campaign, although eight draws have kept them off the top. Last time out, they rescued a 1-1 draw against Navbahor thanks to Muhammadqodir Hamraliev’s 84th-minute equaliser.
The head-to-head record offers little separation. Pakhtakor won their April league meeting 1-0, but Neftchi gained revenge by the same scoreline in the Uzbekistan Cup in August.
Neftchi have been more prolific, while Pakhtakor have been harder to beat. With only five rounds remaining after this encounter, the result could have a major impact on the title race.
Nasaf vs Sogdiana: A Solid Defence Faces One of the League’s Top Scorers
24 October | 7th vs 11th
Nasaf have collected 38 points and remain in contention for a top-four finish. They have conceded just 22 goals in 24 matches, but eight draws have slowed their progress up the table. Their latest game ended in a goalless draw against Lokomotiv.
Sogdiana play a much more open style of football. They have scored 41 goals and conceded 47 in 24 matches. Games involving the Jizzakh club regularly produce chances at both ends, with their defence among the most vulnerable in the competition.
Nasaf’s biggest concern will be Ljupčo Doriev. The Sogdiana striker leads the scoring charts with 15 goals, ahead of Neftchi’s Stipe Perica.
For Nasaf, this is an opportunity to exploit the visitors’ defensive weaknesses and move closer to the top four. Sogdiana need a better balance between attack and defence: their goalscoring form has not been enough to compensate for the chances they give away.
Bukhara vs Surkhon: Fourth Place Meets a Three-Game Clean-Sheet Run
23 October | 4th vs 12th
Bukhara have won their last two matches, beating Andijan 3-2 and Dinamo Samarkand 2-1. Those victories lifted them to fourth with 40 points, although their defence has still conceded 32 goals in 24 games.
Surkhon’s recent form tells a very different story. The Termez side have scored just 19 goals all season, but they have kept three consecutive clean sheets: a 1-0 win over Kokand followed by goalless draws against Qizilqum and Khorezm.
Bukhara’s improving attack will therefore face one of the league’s strongest recent defensive runs. Three points are particularly important for the hosts: AGMK and Lokomotiv are only one point behind them, with Nasaf a further point back.
Khorezm vs Navbahor: Third Place Against a Relegation Battle
26 October | 15th vs 3rd
Navbahor sit third with 46 points, but have failed to win their last two games. They first drew 2-2 with AGMK before sharing the points with Pakhtakor in a 1-1 draw.
Khorezm have just 23 points and occupy the second-bottom position. Yet they have shown they can compete with stronger opponents, holding league leaders Neftchi to a 2-2 draw before recording a goalless stalemate against Surkhon.
Every point matters for the hosts. Following Bunyodkor’s victory over Mash’al, their relegation rivals now have 26 points, while Khorezm and Kokand remain on 23.
Navbahor hold the advantage in squad quality and goals scored, with 42 compared with Khorezm’s 20. But the hosts’ recent draw against Neftchi shows that the gap in the standings does not necessarily translate into an easy away fixture.
AGMK vs Kokand-1912: Different Ambitions, the Same Need for Points
25 October | 5th vs 14th
AGMK enter the round with 39 points. The Almalyk club beat Mash’al 1-0 after drawing 2-2 with Navbahor. A victory could lift them into the top four if Bukhara drop points.
Kokand-1912 are fighting near the relegation zone. After an impressive 3-0 victory over Mash’al, they lost 4-2 to Neftchi. They have conceded 34 goals this season and won only five league matches.
AGMK have been the more consistent side, but their scoring record is not strong enough to suggest a straightforward victory. Both teams need the points, albeit for very different reasons.
Other Matchday 25 Fixtures and Results
The round began on 22 October, when Bunyodkor came from behind to beat Mash’al 2-1. The win took the Tashkent club to 26 points and gave them some breathing room over their closest relegation rivals.
On 25 October, Qizilqum host Lokomotiv. The visitors are sixth with 39 points, while Qizilqum have climbed to 33 following a 1-0 win over Andijan.
Dinamo Samarkand also face Andijan on the same day. Both clubs have 30 points, and both have lost their last two league matches. A victory would help either side establish a more comfortable position in mid-table.
What Matters Ahead of the End of Matchday 25
The title race comes down to a straightforward equation. Pakhtakor can overtake Neftchi on 23 October, while the Fergana club could open up a five-point lead and gain a significant advantage heading into the final stretch.
The top-four battle is almost as close. Bukhara, AGMK, Lokomotiv and Nasaf are separated by just two points, meaning one win or one slip could change several positions.
At the bottom, Bunyodkor have already made an important move by beating Mash’al. Now Khorezm and Kokand need to respond to their rivals’ victory.
The final match of the round, Khorezm vs Navbahor, takes place on 26 October. Once Matchday 25 is complete, we’ll compare the results with the recorded 888STARZ odds and match statistics, paying particular attention to the title showdown between Pakhtakor and Neftchi.
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