I expect that "Lokomotiv" will win against "Sibir" in this match. The Yaroslavl team has good team chemistry and experience, which makes them the favorites. Additionally, "Lokomotiv" showed good results in their last exhibition match, and the addition of experienced player Alexander Radulov will further strengthen their attack. On the other hand, "Sibir" is just starting their game preparation, which may impact their performance. Betting on "Lokomotiv" to win seems the most likely outcome.
Based on the previous encounters of the teams and the tendency towards low-scoring matches, it is likely that in the game between Lokomotiv and Sibir, the total goals scored will not exceed 4.5. All recent friendly matches of Lokomotiv have ended with a total of more than 5, while Sibir has not yet played any such matches. Based on the history of head-to-head meetings and gameplay, one can expect a close game with a minimal number of goals scored. My prediction is under 4.5 total goals.
