Football Season Guide

Sergey Ignashevich was able to guide Baltika to the Russian top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning promotion from the First League with a second-placed finish. Midfielder Artur Galoyan has been the marquee signing over the summer as he joins from First League side Alania. He managed to score eight goals last season in the league so will provide a good boost going forward. Elsewhere, last year's loanees in Tigran Avanesyan and Sergey Pryakhin have now completed permanent moves to the club. The former will provide depth in the midfield, whilst the latter will look to build on a solid campaign last time out. A few shrewd signings on free deals has also seen Aleksandr Zhirov, Joao Lameira and Angelo Henriquez join the club. Roberto Fernandez has also joined on loan. There haven't been too many sales for the club. Danil Klenkin, who featured heavily last season, has left to join Volgar. Veteran midfielder Mladen Kascelan has now retired after a number of solid years with Baltika. Forward Gedeon Guzina will be hoping to carry his good season in the First League into the Russian Premier League this time around. Fellow attacker Tamerlan Musaev also had a good year last time out and is still only 21-years-old so has a bright future. Without many defensive additions, Baltika will likely struggle against the quality of the attacks in the top flight. However, the attack looks decent for the upcoming season.