YEREVAN, Armenia (Interstat) — Ararat will look to continue its recent dominance over crosstown rival Alashkert when the two Yerevan-based clubs meet in an Armenian Premier League match on Saturday.

The fixture at the Republican Stadium will be the third meeting between the sides this season, with Ararat winning the previous two in convincing fashion. Ararat routed Alashkert 4-0 at home on March 15, following a 3-0 victory in the same stadium last August.

That recent history stands in stark contrast to the statistical projection for this match. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 1-1 draw.

Ararat enters the match after a wild 6-3 defeat to league leader Pyunik on Wednesday. That result snapped a modest two-game home winning streak for Ararat, which has been inconsistent this campaign with a record of 3-0-7 in its last 10 league matches.

Alashkert, meanwhile, is winless in its last three outings but earned a credible 1-1 draw against second-place Ararat-Armenia on Monday. Their form has been mixed, with a record of 3-4-3 over their last 10.

The match is the first of a quick home-and-home series between the clubs, with the return fixture scheduled for Tuesday at Alashkert’s stadium. That immediate rematch adds a layer of tactical intrigue to Saturday’s contest.

For Ararat, the key will be replicating the high-scoring performances from their recent wins over Alashkert while shoring up a defense that conceded six times midweek. Alashkert will be desperate to find an offensive spark after failing to score in the last two head-to-head meetings.

The Armenian Premier League, also known as the First League, is nearing its climax, with every point critical for positioning. Following this match, Ararat will host Pyunik again on April 18, while Alashkert travels to face Urartu on April 19.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on April 11.