June 29, 2020
With 25 matches completed for the teams in the teams in the Championship Round of the Armenian Premier League, Champions Ararat Armenia are level with Shirak with three matches to play. With five wins and two draws Shirak have gone from 6th place at the end of the regular season to be being Ararat-Armenia’s main rival for the title. With 22 goals for Shirak all season, Ivorian Mory Kone is way clear at the top of the goal scoring charts, having scored double the total of Lori’s Desire, and has scored 7 times already in the Championship round.
With 25 matches completed for the teams in the teams in the Championship Round of the Armenian Premier League, Champions Ararat Armenia are level with Shirak with three matches to play. With five wins and two draws Shirak have gone from 6th place at the end of the regular season to be being Ararat-Armenia’s main rival for the title. With 22 goals for Shirak all season, Ivorian Mory Kone is way clear at the top of the goal scoring charts, having scored double the total of Lori’s Desire, and has scored 7 times already in the Championship round.
In
contrast, Ararat-Armenia have won 2, drawn 3 and lost twice ( including to
Shirak ) in the Championship Round, as the 8 point gap between them and Shirak
has been eliminated. A chance for a three-point lead was wasted with a dramatic
loss at Lori on Sunday, throwing away a 1-0 lead to lose in the 95th minute.
Noah still
have a chance of the title, lying three points behind and have destiny in their
own hands, having still to play both of the top two in their final two matches.
Alashkert
still have a theoretical chance of winning the title but making up 5 points
over three games is unlikely, and they have lost 3 of their last 5 matches, so a
Europa League slot is their more likely ambition.
Fifth
place Lori will still harbour hopes of overtaking Alashkert or Noah and taking a Europa League slot but Ararat realistically
have nothing left to play for. The same applies to the three teams playing out
the Relegation Round where, after the demise of FC Yerevan, no-one will be
relegated this season.
The Armenian
Cup final will be between Noah and Ararat-Armenia on a date still to be
decided. The winner will be assured of at least a Europa League place.
Next
Fixtures :
Thurs 2nd
July Shirak vs Lori 14.30 UK
Time
Thurs 2nd
July Noah vs Ararat 15.00 UK Time
Thurs 2nd
July Ararat-Armenia vs
Alashkert 17.00 UK Time
Relegation
Round
Wed 1st
July Pyunik
vs Gandzasar 16.00
UK Time
Shirak will be hoping to put the pressure on Ararat-Armenia and Noah by winning the first match of Round 26 against Lori. Shirak have won all three home Championship Round matches in Gyumri and have only lost twice at home all season. However, one of those losses was to Lori.
Noah will
be expecting to inflict another defeat on Ararat, who have only picked up 2
points in the Championship Round, and so keep breathing down the necks of the
top 2 in readiness for playing them in their final two matches. However, the
return fixture between these two sides was a 0-0 draw, although Noah did play
nearly 80 minutes with only 10 men.
Playing
last in the round, Ararat-Armenia will be hoping to take advantage of
Alashkert's poor recent form to strengthen their position, and have already
beaten Alashkert 2-1 earlier in the Championship Round.
How To Watch :
All matches are shown live on the Armenian Football Federation
YouTube channel. Highlights will be available on the Armenian-soccer.com
channel
