Spartak Moscow vs Fakel Prediction 18 August 2024

🔊Will Spartak manage to stay in the top-5 of the Premier League by the end of the fifth round? At least the bookmakers' prediction makes it the favorite in the upcoming match, which will take place at the "Lukoil Arena" in Moscow. Initially, it was planned to be held in Voronezh, but Fakel requested Spartak to swap the matches of the first and second rounds.

Head-to-Head

Out of the last six head-to-head matches, Spartak has the advantage with 67 percent wins. However, last season they lost to Fakel both at home and away with the same scoreline of 0:2. It's worth noting that the Moscow team managed to keep a clean sheet in only one of these matches. Therefore, we highlight a potential bet on Fakel scoring.

Spartak

Spartak has made a favorable impression at the start of the season. They faltered in the first round but had a significant advantage in the other matches. Indeed, last weekend, the team drew with Akhmat (0:0), although an xG of 1.67 speaks for itself. In the other four matches, including the Russian Cup, they scored three goals each time. For instance, this week, Spartak thrashed Krylia Sovetov with a score of 3:0 in Samara, replicating the result from their Premier League match in Moscow. Moreover, the team hasn't conceded in four consecutive games, which is also unusual for them. Despite their excellent performance in attack, Spartak is expected to sign Akturkoglu from Galatasaray.

Fakel

Some Russian clubs invite coaches for a second stint. Fakel is no exception, having appointed Pyatibratov, who worked in Voronezh last year. During its time in the Premier League, the club has changed five coaches, leading in this metric. Pyatibratov's debut turned out to be unsuccessful. Thus, recently Fakel lost to Akron in the Russian Cup with a score of 1:2. The match was held in Voronezh but without spectators. Before that, the team managed to earn just one point in the Premier League, drawing with Krasnodar (0:0). Unsurprisingly, Fakel is at the bottom of the league table.

Fouls and Yellow Cards

This season, Fakel commits slightly more fouls - 11.8 against 11.3. Moreover, the team from Voronezh has significantly more yellow cards - 2.6 against 1.8. Not to forget, they have three red cards in six matches this season, while Spartak has yet to receive any. In such a situation, it's worth paying attention to Fakel winning on warnings.

Prediction on Goals

Fakel is not that bad defensively. Only Rubin and Krylia Sovetov have conceded more goals than them in the Premier League. Meanwhile, several teams have conceded seven goals, just like Fakel. On the other hand, Spartak averages two goals per game this season if you include the Russian Cup. Considering that the hosts are clear favorites, you can count on a total of over 1.5 goals from Spartak.

Prediction on Corners

This season, Spartak has an advantage in corners - 5.3 against 3.7. Moreover, matches involving them average 9.2 corners, while Fakel's games feature even fewer. Therefore, a bet on total corners under 10.5 seems quite justified.

Match Prediction

Spartak is considered the favorite for the upcoming match. In most matches, they scored three goals. Although they haven't conceded for a long time, this streak is bound to end eventually. Therefore, we focus on an exact score of 3:1.

Pyatibratov has already faced Spartak with Fakel before. Then he lost by one goal margin but managed to score both in Voronezh and Moscow. Essentially, the team is currently on an emotional high after changing coaches. Therefore, Fakel might score in the upcoming match but is unlikely to keep a clean sheet. As a key bet, we suggest - both teams to score (Yes).

Will the prediction come true or not? We invite you to vote and leave a comment at the bottom of the page.