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Remind me next time

The Russian Premier League kicks off this weekend with a full slate of fixtures. The action gets going on Friday night with FC Rostov and Dinamo Moscow tangling. The league then steamrolls on with a big matchday 1 clash between Rubin Kazan and Spartak Moscow. The Russian rivals will play at the Kazan Arena with three massive points up for grabs.

Rubin Kazan vs Spartak Moscow Match Preview

Rubin Kazan ended the 2020-21 Russian Premier League season in fourth place and on a three-match unbeaten streak. The Stones picked up 53 points from a possible 90 available in the league. The team’s fourth-place finish allowed them to qualify for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round, which they will begin in August.

Spartak Moscow ended the 2020-21 campaign in second place and eight points off of league winners Zenit St. Petersburg. Spartak Moscow collected 57 points from 90 on offer during the season and ended it four matches unbeaten. The Meat will be one of the favourites to lift the Russian Premier League trophy next spring.

Spartak are also gearing up for European competition as the club will compete in the Champions League third qualifying round. The Meat can’t take their eyes off of matchday 1 versus Rubin Kazan, however. The good news for manager Rui Vitoria is that the team have a great head-to-head record versus Rubin Kazan.

Rubin Kazan vs Spartak Moscow Betting Odds

 

 

Rubin Kazan head into the first matchday of the campaign on the back of three straight preseason friendly losses. One of those defeats came at the hands of Spartak Moscow and saw the capital club win 4-0. It has been an inauspicious start for the club. Manager Leonid Slutsky will hope the side can overcome the poor preseason on Saturday at home.

 

Sportsbooks’ betting odds for Rubin Kazan have the team at 11/5 to defeat Spartak Moscow. Unfortunately, Rubin Kazan have not defeated Spartak Moscow at home since the 2013-14 Russian Premier League season. The Stones have failed to win on eight occasions at home in cup or league matches versus Spartak Moscow.

Spartak Moscow are favourites and the best betting odds for the capital club according to sportsbooks are 5/4 to win at full-time. Spartak Moscow have won on their last two league trips to the Kazan Arena in the Russian Premier League.

The Meat are on a three-match preseason winning streak with victories over Sochi, Rubin Kazan, and Khimki. Sportsbooks best betting odds for a draw between Rubin Kazan and Spartak Moscow are 49/20.

Rubin Kazan vs Spartak Moscow Team News

Rubin Kazan sold defender Carl Starfelt to Celtic this week for £4 million. The Swede’s departure will create a whole in the Rubin Kazan defence that Slutsky must fill quickly. Starfelt wasn’t only a monster in defence but a presence on set-pieces. He scored three goals in the Russian Premier League last season.

The Stones were led in goals by Dorde Despotovic in 2020-21. The Serbian bagged 14 goals and added three assists in 26 matches. The 29-year-old is now in his second season at the Russian club. Despotovic was the only Rubin Kazan player to score double-digit goals last term. Denis Makarov was the team’s second-leading scorer with seven strikes.

Spartak Moscow will be buoyed by their 4-0 beaten down of Rubin Kazan in a preseason friendly. Vitoria will expect more of the same from his team. Victor Moses, Aleksandr Sobolev, Roman Zobnin, and Georgi Dzhikiya all got on the scoresheet for the Meat.

Swedish forward Jordan Larsson lead Spartak Moscow in goals last term with 15 in 29 matches. He added five assists. Reports indicate West Ham are interested in Larsson, but the striker might not be ready for Premier League football. Celtic are also linked with him. Victor Moses will aim to score once more against Rubin Kazan after his preseason goal.

Rubin Kazan vs Spartak Moscow H2H

Spartak Moscow have been on a brilliant run of form against Rubin Kazan. The Meat are unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 matches versus Rubin Kazan in all competitions. That takes into account friendlies as well. Rubin Kazan have not won at home versus Spartak Moscow in the league since the 2013-14 campaign.

Spartak Moscow have won on back-to-back visits to the Kazan Arena and could make it a third straight win away versus the Stones. They are favourites to win the game with betting odds of 5/4.

Rubin Kazan vs Spartak Moscow Prediction

Spartak Moscow to win to nil @ 3/1 - BET NOW

 

 

Sportsbooks are offering excellent betting odds on a Spartak Moscow win to nil and our prediction is that the Meat will keep a clean sheet this weekend. Spartak Moscow have kept clean sheets in three of their last five games against Rubin Kazan in all competitions. Rubin Kazan do not look to have strengthened this summer and are weaker without Starfelt.

 

Victor Moses to score anytime @ 5/1 - BET NOW

 

 

Victor Moses bagged four league goals in 2020-21, but we are backing Moses to score versus Rubin Kazan after he got a goal against them in preseason. Of course, you may want to back last season’s top scorer Jordan Larsson, who we predict could also get on the scoresheet. Larsson, the son of former Celtic great Henrik Larsson, is at odds of 13/8 to score anytime.

 

Under 2.5 goals scored @ 87/100 - BET NOW

 

 

Ignoring the teams’ preseason friendly in which Spartak Moscow won 4-0, six of the last eight games between these teams finished with under 2.5 goals scored. That includes both matches played in 2020-21. Those games finished 2-0 respectively.

 

Our prediction is another Spartak Moscow win with under 2.5 goals being scored. This fixture could possibly end 2-0 in favour of the Meat. Spartak Moscow went to the Kazan Arena last season and won 2-0. Our prediction is that they are likely to do it again. While Zenit St. Petersburg remain the class of the Russian Premier League, Spartak Moscow should push them again for the league trophy.