Russia have won 12 of their last 14 world championship matches
Head-to-Head
• Bulgaria have won only two of their 13 world championship matches against Russia. These two victories, in 1970 and 2002, both came in straight sets.
• Four years ago these teams met in the classification round 5-8 with Russia winning 3-1.
• Russia (including CIS, URS) have won 52 of their 62 encounters Bulgaria at major tournaments and are currently on an eight-match winning streak.
• Bulgaria's last win at one of these tournaments came at the 2011 World League in the Intercontinental Round.
Russia
• Russia can win eight matches in a row for the first time since URS won 29 matches in a row 1979-1986.
• They have won 12 of their last 14 world championship matches.
• Russia have won four of their last five matches in straight sets and five of their last seven, losing only two sets in these seven matches.
Bulgaria
• Bulgaria can win three WCh matches in a row. They last did this in 2010.
• They can play at least three five-set matches at a single world championship for the first time since 2002. They had two five-setters in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
• Bulgaria are one win short of the record 97 wins that the former Soviet Union collected. Brazil can win their 98th match on Sunday.
• Teodor Todorov and Todor Aleksiev play in Russia for Gazprom-Yugra.