Round 23 of the Uzbekistan Super League has already opened with a surprise. League leaders Neftchi dropped points at home in a 2–2 draw with Khorezm, giving Pakhtakor a major opportunity in the title race. The Tashkent side are now only three points behind with a game in hand, Navbahor remain third, while Nasaf enter their meeting with Dinamo in excellent form. We look at the main fixtures of the round and follow the football markets at 888STARZ.
After the draw with Khorezm, Neftchi have 52 points from 23 matches. Pakhtakor sit on 49 after 22 games, Navbahor have 44, AGMK and Lokomotiv 35 each, while Nasaf are on 34.
That makes Pakhtakor’s Friday fixture directly relevant to the battle for first place.
Pakhtakor vs Bunyodkor: A Chance to Draw Level with Neftchi
9 October
This is the biggest match of the round from a title-race perspective.
Pakhtakor enter the fixture second with 49 points from 22 matches. After Neftchi unexpectedly drew 2–2 with Khorezm, victory in the Tashkent derby would move Pakhtakor level with the leaders on 52 points.
The stakes have increased dramatically in a matter of days.
Before the break, Pakhtakor beat Mash’al 2–1 and maintained the pressure at the top. They have lost only once in the league this season and carry a 39:20 goal difference.
Bunyodkor are in a very different position — 13th with 22 points. However, their most recent game delivered an important psychological boost: a 2–1 victory over Bukhara ended a run of 11 consecutive defeats.
So the visitors cannot simply be written off.
The first league meeting between the sides was also much tighter than the table might suggest, with Pakhtakor winning only 1–0 in July.
For the hosts, however, the task is obvious: after Neftchi’s mistake, this is not a match where they can afford to drop points.
A Pakhtakor win would effectively reset the title race with the two leading teams level on points.
Nasaf vs Dinamo Samarkand: The Hottest Team in the League?
9 October
If recent form matters more than league position, Nasaf may be one of the most dangerous teams in Round 23.
After a difficult spell in August, they have suddenly shifted gears.
Their last three Super League matches:
- Nasaf 6–2 Neftchi
- Nasaf 3–0 Bunyodkor
- Andijan 1–4 Nasaf
That is 13 goals across three rounds.
The latest win in Andijan lifted Nasaf to sixth place with 34 points and brought them back towards the group immediately below the top three.
Dinamo have 30 points and sit ninth. In the previous round, the Samarkand side twice took the lead against Navbahor but eventually lost 3–2.
The first meeting between Nasaf and Dinamo this season ended 1–1 in Samarkand.
The situation looks very different now. Nasaf are scoring freely, playing at home and arrive after three convincing performances in a row.
The main question is whether Dinamo can stop an attack that has dismantled several opponents over the past few weeks.
AGMK vs Navbahor: Fourth Against Third
11 October
The biggest Sunday fixture of the round.
AGMK sit fourth with 35 points, while Navbahor are third on 44. The gap is considerable, but both teams remain in the upper section of the table and this head-to-head meeting directly affects the battle behind the top two.
Navbahor’s recent form has been particularly impressive.
They are unbeaten in their last five Super League matches:
- 2–0 win over Mash’al
- 1–0 win over Nasaf
- 1–1 draw with Lokomotiv
- 4–1 win over Bukhara
- 3–2 win over Dinamo
That is four wins and one draw.
Their latest game also showed plenty of character. Dinamo took the lead twice, but Navbahor turned the match around before half-time and eventually won 3–2.
AGMK also come into the fixture after a victory. They trailed Sogdiana in Round 22 but took control after the break and came back to win 2–1.
That gives us two in-form teams with different objectives.
Navbahor want to consolidate third place and retain at least some contact with the top two. AGMK need points to protect fourth and keep the chasing pack behind them.
Bukhara vs Andijan: A Tight Mid-Table Battle
9 October
This match may not directly affect the title race, but it shows just how compact the middle of the standings remains.
Bukhara have 34 points, while Andijan are on 30.
Both lost in the previous round. Bukhara went down 2–1 to Bunyodkor, while Andijan conceded four at home in a 4–1 defeat to an in-form Nasaf.
With only four points separating the teams, one victory can significantly alter their positions.
The pressure is particularly high on Andijan: another defeat could leave them increasingly detached from the group fighting for the places immediately behind the leading trio.
The Round Has Already Started: Neftchi Drop Two Points
The opening match of Round 23 took place on 7 October.
Neftchi 2–2 Khorezm
And it produced a genuine surprise.
Khorezm went ahead twice through a Rafael Tavares brace. Neftchi responded twice through Stipe Perica and Jamshid Iskanderov, but could not find a winner.
Those are costly dropped points for the league leaders.
Neftchi now have 52 points from 23 games, while Pakhtakor have 49 from 22. As a result, Friday’s Tashkent derby suddenly carries direct title-race significance.
Uzbekistan Super League Round 23 Schedule
7 October
- Neftchi 2–2 Khorezm
9 October
- Kokand-1912 vs Mash’al
- Pakhtakor vs Bunyodkor
- Bukhara vs Andijan
- Nasaf vs Dinamo Samarkand
10 October
- Qizilqum vs Surkhon
11 October
- Sogdiana vs Lokomotiv
- AGMK vs Navbahor
What Round 23 Could Change
The main storyline is now obvious.
Before the round, Neftchi were in control of the championship race. But the 2–2 draw against Khorezm has opened the door for Pakhtakor.
A win against Bunyodkor would move the Tashkent club level with the leaders on points.
Just below them, Navbahor will try to extend their excellent run and strengthen their hold on third place, while AGMK have a chance to close the gap in a direct meeting.
Nasaf are another team worth watching closely. Thirteen goals in their last three league matches make them one of the most dangerous sides in the round despite sitting only sixth.
Round 23 therefore matters at several levels — from the title race to the battle for positions immediately behind the top three.
On Monday, we will review the complete round and look at which pre-match expectations were confirmed — and where the Super League delivered another surprise.
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