Zenit vs Spartak Moscow Prediction
🔊 Will Spartak's winning streak in the RPL continue? Since the winter break, the "red and whites" have only suffered a loss in a cup match. In the 21st round of the championship, they face a trip to Saint Petersburg to take on Zenit. The "blue-white-sky blues" approach this clash eager to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in Orenburg, where they missed two penalties. Who will be better prepared for this battle of the capitals? Our editorial team offers an insightful prediction on each club's chances.
Head-to-Head
📊 Zenit haven't tasted victory against Spartak in their last four official encounters. Their last triumph came almost two years ago in the Russian Cup. However, over the span of 10 games, Zenit hold the upper hand with four wins compared to Spartak's two. The teams have also drawn four times.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Zenit Saint Petersburg Team Overview
Zenit kicked off the second half of the season with two wins against Baltika in both the league and the cup, each with a 1-0 scoreline. However, despite their significant winter signings, the team from St. Petersburg failed to impress: in the first match, they benefited from a disallowed goal by the Kaliningrad side, and in the second, the "Blue-White-Sky Blues" were statistically outplayed.
In their most recent match of the 20th round of the RPL, Sergei Semak's squad suffered an away defeat to Orenburg (1-2). Yes, much of the loss can be attributed to the visitors' profligacy, as they missed two penalties. However, given the quality of their roster, Zenit allowed the hosts too many opportunities near their goal: Orenburg registered 14 shots with an xG of 1.38.
Match Results: Zenit Saint Petersburg
Spartak Moscow Team Overview
Under the guidance of new coach Juan Carlos Carcedo, Spartak's style has thrilled casual fans with its flair but caused concern among dedicated supporters due to the high number of goals conceded. In just three matches, the "Red-Whites" have let in 10 goals. Fortunately, this hasn't impacted their league results, as Spartak are currently on a two-game winning streak, closing the gap to fifth-placed Baltika to just one point.
A true goal-fest unfolded during the 20th round of the RPL between Spartak and Akron at the "Lukoil Arena" (4-3). The hosts dominated the first half, securing a comfortable lead (3-1). However, almost immediately after the break, they conceded twice in quick succession. The dramatic conclusion came in the final two minutes of regulation time, as the hosts managed to regain their advantage, albeit narrowly. According to statistics, it was a well-earned victory, with Spartak enjoying 65% possession and nearly doubling their opponents' xG (2.23 compared to 1.32).
Match Results: Spartak Moscow
Latest news
Zenit Saint Petersburg
🎙 Zenit's head coach apologized for the defeat against Orenburg. "On this special day for all our female fans, I would like to apologize on behalf of the entire team for the unsatisfactory result. It was very important for us to delight you with a victory today, but unfortunately, we couldn't make it happen. We will draw conclusions and strive to bring you new victories," said Sergei Semak.
❌ Zenit are preparing for the match with an almost optimal lineup. The only concern is the form of Vanya Drkusic, who recently returned from a loan spell at Red Star Belgrade.
Spartak Moscow
🎙 Spartak's head coach discussed the team's issues in the spring part of the season. "I agree that we conceded too many goals in these games. Fortunately, we managed to secure two victories, and those six points in the league have helped us significantly. Of course, we need to keep working. We weren't compact enough, and there are areas where we need to improve-set pieces, for instance. We're currently focusing a lot on them, on coordination, compactness, and defensive actions. We'll strive to get better," noted Juan Carlos Carcedo.
❌ Back in October last year, Spartak lost defender Srdjan Babic due to a knee injury. Additionally, Aleksandr Djiku will miss the upcoming match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
🟨 Prediction on Yellow Cards
The derby between the two capitals has historically been marked by a high number of clashes. The intensity of these head-to-head encounters is off the charts, with the average number of yellow cards consistently exceeding the over totals. For instance, in 5 out of the last 6 meetings, there have been at least four bookings. Currently, both teams are among the top six in the RPL and harbor championship ambitions. Therefore, a reasonable bet here would be on total yellow cards over 4.5.
⚽️ Prediction on Goals
In our analysis of Spartak under Juan Carlos Carcedo, we noted that the team delivers exceptionally entertaining matches. In their last three games, the "red-whites" have maintained a negative goal difference but remain impressive with figures: 9-10. Moreover, in the last four head-to-head encounters between these teams, there have been at least three goals scored. We hope that the upcoming derby between the two capitals will not disappoint in terms of scoring. We back our expectations with a bet on total goals over 2.5.
🚩 Prediction on Corners
Even before Juan Carlos Carcedo's arrival, Spartak excelled in set-pieces; they rank in the top two in the RPL for average corners-5.55 over 20 rounds. With a coach boasting European experience, the Moscow side places significant emphasis on set-pieces, earning at least five corners in each of their three matches after the winter break. Given these insights, we suggest opting for Spartak's total corners over 3.5.
Editor's Prediction
Spartak have recently been quite successful against Zenit, remaining unbeaten in their last four official encounters with the St. Petersburg side, scoring in two of those matches. During the winter break, it seemed that Juan Carlos Carcedo would bring defensive stability to the "Red-Whites," but surprisingly, the team has shown a strong attacking focus, averaging three goals over their last three games. Despite Zenit's issues, we would consider betting on Spartak to score, even though they are playing away. We'll still give a slight edge to the hosts with a scoreline of 2-1.
Betting Tips: Zenit Saint Petersburg - Spartak Moscow
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