The Matchday 21 clash in the Russian Premier League between Spartak and Zenit will take place on March 16 at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow. Spartak vs. Zenit: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Spartak
Before their defeat in the last round to Rubin (1-2), the Moscow club had won seven consecutive league matches, scoring at least two goals in each of those games. Dejan Stanković's side extended their scoring streak in the Premier League to eight games. Spartak has scored 39 goals in total, with only Dynamo Moscow having more (42). In the standings, the team has dropped to third place, trailing the top two by three points.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 8 of Spartak's last 10 league matches.
- At home, the Moscow team has won 7 of their last 9 Premier League matches (1 draw, 1 loss).
- The club has not conceded more than one goal in 10 of their last 13 home matches in the Premier League.
Predicted lineup for Spartak (4-3-3)
Aleksandr Maksimenko – Srdjan Babic, Daniil Denisov, Alexis Duarte, Oleg Ryabchuk – Daniil Prutsev, Nail Umyarov, Ezequiel Barco – Theo Bongonda, Marquinhos, Manfred Ugalde.
Defender Alexis Duarte will miss the match due to a suspension from the previous round.
Zenit
Sergei Semak's side ended a three-match winless streak in the Premier League (1 draw, 2 losses) with an away victory over Fakel (2-0) in the last round. Notably, Zenit kept a clean sheet for the 12th time this season, matching Spartak in this regard. In the main standings, Zenit managed to overtake their arch-rival. Additionally, the team has the best defensive record in the tournament, conceding only 12 goals.
- The club has scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 7 of their last 8 Premier League games.
- Zenit has not lost to their upcoming opponent in 13 consecutive league meetings (7 wins, 6 draws).
- In 5 of their last 7 away matches in the Premier League, Zenit did not concede a single goal.
Predicted lineup for Zenit (4-5-1)
Evgeny Latyshonok – Gustavo Mantuan, Strahinja Erakovic, Nino, Douglas Santos – Sasha Zdjelar, Maksim Glushenkov, Andrey Mostovoy, Luis Enrique, Wendel – Luciano Gondou.
Defender Vyacheslav Karavaev will not play due to injury. Midfielder Wendel is suspended.
Referee
Sergey Ivanov (Russia)
Matches – 11 (Premier League, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 36;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.3;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 27%.
Spartak vs. Zenit: Match Prediction
For quite some time, this rivalry was known for its high-scoring nature, but in the last two league meetings, no goals were scored. Almost exactly a year ago, when Spartak's league position was more precarious and they desperately needed a win, they failed to score but also kept a clean sheet. With the standings being tight and ten rounds still to play, both teams are unlikely to take unnecessary risks. Given the strong defensive records of both sides, a goal-fest seems unlikely.
Spartak and Zenit have the longest clean sheet streaks in the current championship. Spartak leads in home clean sheets, while Zenit excels in this aspect away. Both teams are also in the top three for xGA in the tournament.
I believe the high stakes of this match will lead to a lot of battles, rather than goals. The usual intensity of this rivalry will likely prevent players from showcasing their best skills. Even in the final of the last Winline Winter Cup of the Premier League, cards of both colors were shown.
My prediction: Total under 2.5 goals
