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 victories for the second time in their history. The first instance was in the 2017/18 season when Lokomotiv became champions. In the previous round, Mikhail Galaktionov's side defeated Pari NN 3-2. The team's unbeaten run in the RPL now stands at nine matches (6 wins, 3 draws), and they have scored at least two goals in each of their last five games. The Moscow club leads the standings and, with eight goals, is the most prolific team in the current championship.
- 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 Vorobyev, Alexander Rudenko.
Spartak
Dejan Stankovic's side drew 1-1 away at Akron in their last match. Spartak has accumulated four points but has only scored twice, matching the club's record low for goals after three rounds. Additionally, after a series of three clean sheets, the Moscow team has conceded in two consecutive RPL matches. Spartak currently sits in 11th place in the 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 avoided defeat in 6 of their last 7 league games (3 wins, 3 draws).
- Spartak has scored against their upcoming opponent in the last 6 meetings 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.
Referee
Sergey Ivanov (Russia)
Matches – 14 (RPL, 2024/25 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 50;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 27;
Penalties – 29%.
Lokomotiv vs. Spartak: Match Prediction
The teams approach this match in different states. The "Railroaders" have won all three of their league matches, including a victory over the champions. Mikhail Galaktionov's side enjoys a long unbeaten run in the RPL and has a much better mood than Spartak. Dejan Stankovic's team began the tournament with a hard-fought win over Makhachkala, a heavy defeat to a Premier League newcomer, and a tough draw with Akron. With this form, the club will find it challenging to expect a positive outcome against Lokomotiv, where Spartak has not won in 4 of the last 5 away meetings (1 draw, 3 losses).
The "Railroaders" are pleasing with their scoring ability. The team creates many scoring opportunities and executes them well. In both aspects, Lokomotiv is in the top three of the tournament. Meanwhile, Spartak ranks fifth from the bottom in xGA. Dejan Stankovic's side conceded three against Baltika, and Akron spared them with another penalty. Three red cards at the start of the championship also indicate problems. Additionally, the team regularly concedes from 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
