Spartak Moscow vs Orenburg prediction

After conceding a careless goal from a handball by Wu inside the penalty area, Spartak didn't crumble but instead clinched a victory against Akhmat in Grozny, scoring in the 90th minute while playing with a numerical advantage (2-1). The red and whites once again demonstrated resilience, with the winning goal credited to Barco, who capitalized on a free kick following Shelia's blunder.

Over the course of two matches, Carcedo's team netted five goals and created 3.7 xG, showcasing the potency of their attacking lineup. It’s worth mentioning that the reigning champions won't field a completely second-rate lineup in the early stages of the Russian Cup - players like Dmitriev, Massalyga, Prutsev, Parada, and Saucedo are likely to get their minutes, with Pomazun guarding the goal, but we'll definitely see attacking core players like Barco, Marquinhos paired with either Ugalde or Livai. Gedson and Zorin remain sidelined due to injuries and won't be available for the home match.

Orenburg doesn’t boast such depth in their squad, so in Moscow, I anticipate seeing Azmatzyanov rolling out the youngsters and inexperienced newcomers. After a spirited comeback against Rostov, the blue and whites faltered, losing 0-3 to Zenit fueled by a Glushenkov hat-trick.

Just like in their match against Rostov, the team seemed absent in the first half but mounted pressure from set-pieces after the break; Palacios hit the crossbar, but ultimately, St Petersburg’s Maxim crushed Akhmatzyanov’s team's hopes of a comeback with his goals. With a broad rotation and considering the current form, nothing promising awaits Orenburg's rear guard in Moscow. Core defender Bolotov is suspended, further weakening the guests' defensive lineup.