The Matchday 20 clash in the Russian Premier League between Rubin and Spartak will take place on March 9 at the Ak Bars Arena in Kazan. Rubin vs. Spartak: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Rubin
Rashid Rakhimov's side suffered a 1-2 away defeat to Akhmat in the last round. As a result, Rubin's four-match unbeaten streak in the league, which included two wins and two draws, came to an end. Additionally, the club conceded at least two goals for the eighth time this season in the Russian Premier League. In the standings, the Kazan team remains in eighth place with 26 points. Notably, Rubin has scored only 11 goals in home matches this season, surpassing just four other teams in this regard.
- The team has not won in 7 of their last 10 home matches in the Russian Premier League (3 draws, 4 losses).
- No more than two goals have been scored in 5 of Rubin's last 7 home league matches.
- Rubin has conceded a maximum of one goal in 5 of their last 7 home league games.
Predicted lineup for Rubin (5-3-2)
Yevgeny Staver – Dmitry Kabutov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Yegor Teslenko, Igor Vujacic, Ilya Rozhkov – Marat Apshatsev, Ugochukwu Iwu, Nikola Cumic – Dardan Shabanhadjaj, Mirlin Daku.
Spartak
In the last round, Dejan Stankovic's side defeated Orenburg 2-0 at home. As a result, Spartak extended their winning streak in the league to seven matches, each time achieving a goal difference of at least two. Moreover, the Moscow team kept a clean sheet for the 12th time this season in the Russian Premier League. They have accumulated 40 points and climbed to second place in the standings, trailing only Zenit on goal difference. Notably, Spartak has scored 38 goals this season, making them one of the two most prolific teams in the league, alongside Dynamo Moscow.
- The club has not lost in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the Premier League (4 wins, 2 draws).
- The team has conceded no more than one goal in 13 of their last 15 away league games.
- No more than two goals have been scored in 8 of Spartak's last 11 away league matches.
Predicted lineup for Spartak (4-3-3)
Alexander Maksimenko – Srdjan Babic, Daniil Denisov, Alexis Duarte, Oleg Ryabchuk – Christopher Martins, Nail Umyarov, Ezequiel Barco – Theo Bongonda, Marquinhos, Manfred Ugalde.
Referee
Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
Matches – 14 (Russian Premier League, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 66;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.7;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 14%.
Match Prediction: Rubin vs. Spartak
This season, Rubin has not been known for solid defensive performances. In the current league campaign, they have kept only four clean sheets, and these were against teams ranked lower than Rashid Rakhimov's side in the standings: Akron, Akhmat, Fakel, and Dynamo Makhachkala. Additionally, Rubin conceded two goals in each of their last three league matches.
Spartak, on the other hand, is in excellent form and impresses with their attacking prowess. In their last seven league matches, the Moscow team has scored at least twice, even against strong opponents like Krasnodar, CSKA, and Lokomotiv. Furthermore, Spartak has scored at least two goals in 3 of their last 4 league encounters at Rubin's ground.
I believe Dejan Stankovic's side will have no trouble breaking through Rubin's defense at least twice. My prediction: Spartak individual total over 1.5
* Each team's lineup reflects their starting eleven in their last match in this tournament.
