Pyunik's next opponent is Baltika from Kaliningrad. The club was founded in the early 50s of the last century. By the end of the decade, the Baltics gained the right to compete in the third division of the USSR. In the 1990s, the club managed to rapidly increase its status. In 1993, Baltika entered the second league, in 1995 debuted in the top division and finished 7th. After three seasons in the Premier League, Kaliningrad residents left it due to financial difficulties. In '98, they played in an international tournament — the Intertoto Cup — and overcame two rounds.
Now Baltika is playing in the First League. In the last three seasons, the team from Kaliningrad has claimed the play-off matches, giving the opportunity to move to the top division. In October 2021, Sergey Ignashevich, one of the key players of CSKA and the Russian national team in the 2000s and 2010s, became the head coach of Baltika. After finishing his career, he worked in the coaching staff for CSKA, and then led the Torpedo Moscow.
In the 2022/23 season, Baltika set a record unbeaten streak of 19 consecutive matches and scored 41 points in 20 rounds. They are the most productive team in the league, occupying the first line of the standings. Baltika’s central striker Gedeon Guzina leads the list of top scorers with 11 goals in 20 matches.
The career path of many famous football players of the USSR, CIS and Russia is connected with Baltika. Pavel Pogrebnyak spent the 2003/04 season for the club. Later, he won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, played in the Russian national team, Bundesliga clubs, the English Premier League and the Championship.
Pyunik footballers Aram Voskanyan and Artak Aleksanyan played in Baltika. In the 2001/02 season, Voskanyan played 23 matches and scored 10 goals for the Yerevan club. Aleksanyan appeared on the field in 47 matches for Pyunik and scored 2 goals in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons.
Armenian left winger Ishham Geloyan, who played for the Armenian national team in qualifications for the World Cup, played 110 games for Baltika in the 2014/15, 20/21, 21/22 seasons.
In the media, the club performs no less vividly than on the football field. Baltika meets its rivals with art zones dedicated to the history of the clubs or the regions they represent. For example, Alania from Vladikavkaz was greeted with national music and Ossetian costumes. There was even a real eagle at the stadium.
Our club will meet with Baltika on February 9 at 17:00. We are waiting!
