On February 20, the Armenian Supercup match will take place at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. The game will feature the reigning champion Pyunik against the Armenian Cup winner Ararat-Armenia.
The match kicks off at 19:00 Yerevan time and will be broadcast live on FFA TV’s YouTube channel.
What makes this game particularly intriguing is that it will be played immediately after the winter break. Therefore, much will depend on how well the teams have prepared during training camps and what transfers they have made.
Let’s take a look at how the teams are approaching this match.
TEAM TRAINING CAMPS
Ararat-Armenia
The team held its winter training camp in Cyprus, playing friendly matches against relatively weak opponents, most of whom were from Cyprus’ second division, as well as Danish clubs Hobro, Lyngby, and Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris. These matches were held behind closed doors, so evaluating the results is pointless since the lineups are unknown. However, the team was quite active, albeit against weak opposition.
Pyunik
Pyunik, meanwhile, conducted its training camp in Dubai, playing against stronger opponents such as Zenit, Ural (twice), and several teams from the UAE.
TRANSFERS & SQUAD CHANGES
Ararat-Armenia
Ararat-Armenia approaches this match with its usual squad. This team stands out in Armenia for its roster stability and a consistent core of players. They made only three incoming and three outgoing transfers.
- Out: Winger Artur Serobyan left, and Jirair Shagoyan (who had previously played for the club) replaced him.
- Out: Goalkeeper Arsen Beglaryan departed, with another Armenian national team goalkeeper, Henri Avagyan (from Pyunik), taking his place.
- Out: Forward Alexis Rodriguez left, while Brazilian Romercio, a former player of the club, returned to strengthen the defense.
Overall, Ararat-Armenia neither gained nor lost much in this transfer window. Serobyan and Shagoyan are very similar players with minor differences in their playing styles. Rodriguez was already losing his spot in the squad due to the rise of Matthew Gbomadu, and Marius Noubissi remains the main striker. The return of Romercio solidifies the defensive line.
One significant advantage for Ararat-Armenia is squad cohesion, as the team remains well-drilled and consistent.
Pyunik
Pyunik has a new owner, Anton Farber, but retains its head coach, Yeghishe Melikyan, who embodies the team’s philosophy. The squad, however, has undergone significant changes, which, on paper, seem beneficial. The key question is whether the team managed to develop chemistry during the training camp. But there is no doubt that the squad has been strengthened.
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Out: Winger José Caraballo, who was inconsistent and underperformed, left.
- In: 24-year-old Lithuanian Matas Vareika, coming off the best season of his career (10 goals in the Lithuanian league) and now part of his national team. This is clearly an upgrade.
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Out: Forward João Paredes, who failed to score in 13 matches, left.
- In: Temur Djikia, well-known in Armenia for scoring 11 goals for Urartu last season. He spent six months at BATE Borisov, scoring 3 goals. A strong striker for the Armenian league and a clear upgrade.
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Out: Left-back James Santos, who was in great form and had been playing in Armenia for five years.
- In: Joël Bopesu from Žalgiris, who impressed Armenian fans in the Conference League. The Frenchman had a stellar season in Lithuania (7 goals, 18 assists) and, like Santos, can cover the entire left flank. With a more physical presence, he may even be an improvement.
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Out: Midfielder Yevgeni Kachuk, who was a key player last season but recently struggled with injuries.
- In: Arthur Grigoryan, a 32-year-old Pyunik academy graduate, mainly signed to meet Armenian passport requirements. An experienced player who won’t weaken the team.
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Out: Artak Grigoryan, who retired. His leadership will be missed, but Varazdat Haroyan is expected to fill that role.
- In: Daniil Kulikov, a 27-year-old Russian midfielder once seen as a top prospect at Lokomotiv Moscow (89 appearances for the club). Although his career declined, he remains a high-quality player. Possibly one of the best transfers of the Armenian winter window, along with Bopesu.
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Out: Goalkeeper Henri Avagyan left for Ararat-Armenia.
- In: Nikita Alekseev, a young Russian keeper who won’t replace Avagyan in the starting lineup—Stanislav Buchnev will be the first-choice keeper. Losing Avagyan is a blow, as he had recently displaced Buchnev as the starter.
Key addition: The return of Pyunik legend and Armenia’s national team captain, Varazdat Haroyan. The experienced defender will add leadership and defensive quality. While he may struggle with pace at times, this won’t be a major issue in the Armenian league. At 32 years old, he is still a major asset. His return significantly strengthens Pyunik and adds star power to the league.
Injury concerns: Sergey Vakulenko picked up an injury during the training camp and will miss at least two weeks, meaning Haroyan will take his spot in central defense.
Also worth noting is the return of Wagner Gonçalves, one of Pyunik’s best players from last season. He featured in recent friendlies and is ready for competitive action.
CONCLUSION
There is no clear favorite in this match. Ararat-Armenia is stable and cohesive, while Pyunik is reinforced but untested. This makes for a fascinating encounter with plenty of storylines to follow.
Official: The Pyunik vs. Ararat-Armenia match has been postponed