YEREVAN (Interstat) — Urartu FA will host Van FA on Thursday at Urartu Stadium in a global football match, with both clubs looking to improve their standing across all competitions.

Van FA enters with a 2-6-1 record. The visitors won their most recent match, defeating FC Gandzasar 2-0 at home. Van FA’s recent form has been uneven. The club lost 2-0 at Noah FA, won 2-1 at BKMA, lost 4-0 at Alashkert, lost 4-0 at home to Shirak Gyumri, drew 1-1 with Syunik, lost 2-0 at Ararat-Armenia, lost 3-0 at Pyunik Yerevan and lost 4-1 at home to Sardarapat. Van FA will seek a second straight victory and a stronger road performance against Urartu FA.

Urartu FA enters 3-3-3. The home side’s most recent result was a 2-2 draw with Ararat. Gor Lulukyan and Katsuyuki Ishibashi each scored, while goalkeeper Aleksandr Mishiev played the full match. Ishibashi is the player to watch for Urartu FA. He played 90 minutes and scored in the 2-2 draw with Ararat, continuing to provide an attacking threat.

Urartu FA’s season has included a 3-0 win at Gandzasar FA, a 3-0 home loss to Noah FA, a 2-1 loss at BKMA, a 1-1 draw with Alashkert, a 1-0 win at Shirak Gyumri, a 3-0 home win over Syunik, a 2-1 loss at Ararat-Armenia and a 2-2 home draw with Pyunik Yerevan. The club has shown the ability to score in bursts, but consistency has been an issue.

Van FA’s schedule has also produced mixed results. The club has conceded four goals in multiple matches and has been shut out in several others. Still, the recent 2-0 win over FC Gandzasar offers a positive note. Van FA will need to contain Ishibashi and limit Urartu FA’s chances in the final third. Urartu FA will aim to use home advantage and build on its draw with Ararat. Urartu FA has alternated wins, losses and draws across all competitions, while Van FA has endured a difficult stretch but remains capable of creating opportunities.

The clubs also have upcoming league fixtures. Van FA is scheduled to face Ararat, Sardarapat, Pyunik Yerevan, Ararat-Armenia, Syunik, Shirak Gyumri, Alashkert, BKMA and Noah FA. Urartu FA is scheduled to face Sardarapat, Pyunik Yerevan, Ararat-Armenia, Syunik, Shirak Gyumri, Alashkert, BKMA, Noah FA and Gandzasar FA. Both clubs compete in the Armenian Premier League.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Urartu FA 2, Van FA 1. Interstat’s ELO system gives Urartu FA an 87.2 percent probability to win.