Spartak Moscow vs Fakel Prediction 16 September 2026
🔉 The opening fixture of matchday nine in the RPL brings together a side challenging for the title and a club desperately fighting to stay up. Spartak returned to second place after a 3-0 home win over Rostov and are looking for another three points. Fakel, meanwhile, let a 2-0 lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Baltika last time out and are still searching for their first win of the season. Spartak have traditionally been strong at home in the RPL, while Voronezh's visitors have yet to win away this season.
Head-to-Head
📊 The two sides have met seven times. Spartak have won five, there has been one draw, and Fakel have won two. At home, the red-and-whites have won three of their four meetings, scoring three goals in each of those victories.
Head-to-head statistics Spartak Moscow - Fakel
Spartak Moscow Team Overview
Spartak are in excellent form. In the eighth round, they thrashed Rostov 3-0, had 62% possession, registered 15 shots (9 on target) and were in complete control throughout. The win took them back up to second in the table. The team are playing a balanced style of football, capable of both positional dominance and counter-attacking. There is no single standout goalscorer - Ugalde, Prutsev and Solari have each scored two goals - but that arguably makes Spartak harder to read. Solari converted a penalty in the previous round, while 18-year-old Massalyga became only the third 18-year-old player at the club in 15 years to score in the RPL. In home league matches, Spartak have gone unbeaten in 16 of their last 18.
Match Results: Spartak Moscow
Fakel Voronezh Team Overview
Fakel continue to fight but points remain hard to come by. In the eighth round they drew with Baltika (2:2), having led 2:0. A goal from Netfullin and an opposition defensive error put Fakel ahead, but letting the win slip through a 95th-minute penalty was a painful blow. The hosts had 39% possession but were disciplined defensively and made good use of their chances. The problem for the Voronezh side is a lack of quality and confidence. The team is gradually adjusting to the RPL level - the obvious collapses are becoming less frequent, but holding on to results is still proving difficult. Away from home, Fakel have scored in five of their last six matches, which offers some small encouragement.
Match Results: Fakel Voronezh
Latest news
Spartak Moscow
Head coach Juan Carlos Carcedo commented on Ezequiel Barco's condition after the match against Rostov: "He hasn't fully recovered yet and hasn't been able to train properly. But today he really wanted to be with the team. We'll do our best to get him back as soon as possible." Barco had been suffering from bronchitis and was included in the squad for the match but did not take to the pitch. The club's sporting director Francis Cajigao assessed the summer transfer window: "We brought in the players we felt were necessary." Defender Víctor Parada and forward Mërgim Daku were added to the squad.
Fakel Voronezh
Marcel Lička's agent has denied rumours that the Czech coach could take charge of Fakel: "That's absolutely not true. Nobody from the club has been in touch with me or with Marcel. All these rumours are complete nonsense." It had previously been reported that the Voronezh club were in contact with Lička, Dmitri Kirichenko and Zaur Tedeev.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
Fakel defend in a fairly restrained manner, but Spartak's statistics are what stand out here. Spartak's matches tend to be more intense, with opponents fouling more frequently to break up attacks. At least four yellow cards were shown in each of Spartak's last five matches this season. We're going with Total Yellow Cards - Over 3.5 at 1.40*.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Spartak have scored in ten consecutive home RPL matches, and in 7 of those 10 games they scored more than once. The Over 1.5 goals bet landed in 20 of their previous 21 league matches including away fixtures. On top of that, at least two goals were scored in 8 of Fakel's last 9 away matches. Total Goals - Over 1.5 is priced at 1.24*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Spartak attack aggressively and make frequent use of the flanks. Fakel will look to hit on the counter, which also tends to generate set pieces. There's every chance the corner count will be high. We're going with Total Corners - Over 9.5 at 1.96*.
🚀 Player Stat Bet
Spartak don't have a clear-cut top scorer in the league, but Pablo Solari is in good form. The midfielder is a regular starter and has been contributing to goals, converting a penalty in the previous round. We're looking at Solari to Score at 3.13*.
😱 Risky Bet
Fakel have scored in the second half in 5 of their last 6 away matches. The team fights for results but doesn't always hold on - as in the match against Baltika, where victory slipped away in the 95th minute. The visitors have a chance to get on the scoresheet again here, particularly if Spartak ease off slightly after scoring early. We're going with Fakel to Win - Draw No Bet in the Second Half at 4.73*.
🎯 Safe Bet
Fakel have not won a single match in the RPL this season, and their winless run across all competitions now stands at 11 games. Spartak are more reliable at home than away: they have gone unbeaten in 16 of their last 18 home league matches. The safe bet for this game is Spartak Not to Lose at 1.10*.
👀 If the Match Goes Against the Script
Spartak have lost just twice in their last ten home RPL matches, and both defeats came against Krasnodar. Against all other opponents they have taken points, beating Zenit, Rostov, Rubin and Lokomotiv. Fakel are without a win in ten away RPL matches, but Spartak can be inconsistent at times. With the match taking place midweek, there is an element of uncertainty. We're going with a Fakel win at 8.40*.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Fakel are one of the weakest sides in the RPL. Including last season, they have gone 12 away games without a win, with just three draws in that run and defeats in the rest. Spartak are a confident home side and will be favourites here. The Red and Whites have hit their stride, are scoring freely and have barely lost at home. Voronezh can make it competitive, but they lack the quality for a full contest. The editorial prediction is Total Goals - Over 2.5. Predicted score: 2-1.
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Betting Tips: Spartak Moscow - Fakel Voronezh
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