The Matchday 4 clash in the Russian Premier League between Lokomotiv and Spartak will take place on August 9 at the RZD Arena in Moscow. Lokomotiv vs. Spartak: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Lokomotiv
The Railroaders have started the championship with three consecutive wins for the second time in their history. The first occurrence was in the 2017/18 season, which ended with Lokomotiv as champions. In the previous round, Mikhail Galaktionov's men defeated Pari NN 3-2. The team's unbeaten streak in the RPL now stands at nine matches (6 wins, 3 draws), scoring at least two goals in each of their last five games. Lokomotiv tops the league table and is the highest-scoring team in the current championship with eight goals.
- Both teams scored in 6 of Lokomotiv's last 8 Premier League matches.
- The Railroaders have conceded in 7 of their last 9 home games in the RPL.
- The team has scored in 12 consecutive home league matches.
Predicted lineup for Lokomotiv (4-4-2)
Anton Mitryushkin – Alexander Silyanov, Maxim Nenakhov, Cesar Montes, Evgeny Morozov – Dmitry Barinov, Alexey Batrakov, Artem Karpukas, Zelimkhan Bakaev – Dmitry Vorobyov, Alexander Rudenko.
Spartak
Dejan Stankovic's side drew 1-1 away against Akron in their last match. Spartak has four points, but the team has only scored twice, matching the club's record low for goals after three rounds. Additionally, after a series of three clean sheets, Spartak has conceded in two consecutive RPL games. Spartak is currently in 11th place in the league standings.
- The team has not scored more than one goal in 6 of their last 8 Premier League matches.
- Away from home, the club has not lost in 6 of their last 7 league games (3 wins, 3 draws).
- Spartak has scored against their upcoming opponent in 6 of the last head-to-head matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Spartak (4-5-1)
Alexander Maksimenko – Igor Dmitriev, Ruslan Litvinov, Alexis Duarte, Oleg Ryabchuk – Nail Umyarov, Ezequiel Barco, Christopher Martins, Pablo Solari, Marquinhos – Manfred Ugalde.
Forward Theo Bongonda is injured. Defender Daniil Khlusevich is suspended. Fellow defender Ricardo Mangas has left the team.
Match Prediction: Lokomotiv vs. Spartak
The teams approach this match in different conditions. The Railroaders have won all three of their championship matches, including a victory over the reigning champions. Mikhail Galaktionov's squad is on a long unbeaten run in the RPL and is in a much better mood than Spartak. Dejan Stankovic's team started the tournament with a hard-fought win against Makhachkala, a heavy loss to the league newcomers, and a tough draw with Akron. With such form, it will be difficult for the club to expect a positive outcome against Lokomotiv, against whom Spartak has not won away in 4 of the last 5 league meetings (1 draw, 3 losses).
The Railroaders are impressive in terms of scoring. The team creates many scoring opportunities and executes them well. Lokomotiv ranks in the top three in the tournament for both metrics. Spartak, on the other hand, is fifth from the bottom in xGA. Dejan Stankovic's team conceded three against Baltika, and Akron spared them with another penalty. Three red cards at the start of the championship also indicate problems. Furthermore, Spartak regularly concedes against the Railroaders.
The hosts of the upcoming match should secure points in a high-scoring game. My prediction: Lokomotiv will not lose and Total Over 1.5 goals
