With just one round left in the group stage of the Russian Cup’s RPL Path, let’s take a look at which teams have already secured playoff spots.
First quick refresher on the format: 16 clubs divided into four groups with four teams in each. Every team plays six matches in the group stage, both home and away, against the other teams in their group.
The top two teams in each group advance to the upper bracket of the playoffs, where each stage involves two matches.
The third-place teams move to the lower bracket, where stages decided by a single match. The team finishing last in each group eliminated from the tournament.
If two or more teams tied on points, their ranking determined by these factors:
- Head-to-head results (points, wins, goal difference, goals scored)
- Number of regulation-time wins in all group matches
- Goal difference in regulation time in all group matches
- Total goals scored in regulation time in all group matches
- Goal difference in head-to-head penalty shootouts
- A “card coefficient” (based on yellow and red cards) where fewer points place a team higher in the standings.
Teams are now fighting for their final positions as the last round approaches!