Spartak Moscow Vs Lokomotiv Moscow Betting Tip: BTTS – 23 August 2020

Going against the grain in Moscow and backing goals

Fedor Smolov / Lokomotiv Moscow ©imago images / Russian Look 08/15/2020

Russian Federation Spartak Moscow Vs Lokomotiv Moscow Russian Federation

Sunday 23 August 2020 – 17:00 Kick-Off
Russian Premier League
Pick: Both Teams To Score
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 20 August 2020)

Preview: A Moscow derby in which to conclude this weekend’s Russian Premier League entertainment as the unbeaten pairing of Spartak Moscow and Lokomotiv Moscow renew their rivalry inside the former’s Otkritie Arena.

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Spartak Moscow Preview – Set-piece reliance cause for concern?

A dominant performance with the ball doesn’t always guarantee results, as the Champions League has kindly reminded us lately, and Spartak Moscow (7th – W1 D2 L0) were guilty of not converting a wealth of possession and territorial dominance into goals last time out in their 1-1 draw at FC Ufa’s Neftyanik Stadium. A result which extends their unbeaten league run but also leaves them four points adrift of the outright lead.

Had Sweden’s Jordan Larsson converted his early spot-kick, perhaps last week’s contest would have turned out differently. Then again, perhaps not, as Ufa were already one goal to the good by then. Spartak would soon level things up through Argentine Ezequiel Ponce, though, whose powerful header was the third of his team’s five goals to have been scored via a set-play.

Scoring from open play continues to hamper this side, then, which poses a significant problem up against a Lokomotiv Moscow outfit that has conceded once in three league outings thus far. However, the Red-Whites do tend to find a way, scoring two or more three times during their current five-match unbeaten streak (W3 D2). They also netted four versus their Moscow rival last term, albeit three were in the away fixture (0-3).

 

Draw & Both To Score
7/2

Bet365

 

Lokomotiv Moscow Preview – Will their lengthy unbeaten run remain intact?

Runners-up in each of the past two seasons since last lifting the Premier League trophy in 2018. That should, one would think, serve as motivation throughout the 2020-21 campaign as Lokomotiv Moscow (3rd – W2 D1 L0) look to wrestle back the title from a Zenit side who were a class above the rest last term. Unfortunately, though, it is they who have blinked first, dropping their first points of the season earlier in the week.

It might have been a lot worse, though, had it not been for the late intervention from striker Fedor Smolov, whose late effort helped restore parity and ensured a game in which they dominated throughout, creating a host of scoring opportunities, didn’t end in complete disaster. Manager Marko Nikolic will, however, be pleased with the resilience of his side, not the least the fact they are now fourteen games without defeat (W8 D6).

However, even at such an early stage in the season, the result last time out places greater emphasis on their response this weekend – especially with Zenit, two points atop the standings, having a favourable fixture. Success may well hinge on another stoic rearguard effort: since last losing a league game, in December 2019, Loko have kept out eight of fourteen opponents whilst conceding only six times.

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Spartak Moscow Vs Lokomotiv Moscow Betting Advice

Both sides come into this match on the back of disappointing 1-1 draws with opponents they would ordinarily expect to beat, so there could be a genuine sense of purpose to immediately atone on Sunday. It was Spartak Moscow who enjoyed last season’s duels, winning 3-0 away and earning a 1-1 draw at home, despite enduring a wretched campaign which ended with them in seventh, 18 points behind Lokomotiv Moscow in second.

 

Spartak Moscow Vs Lokomotiv Moscow – Key Facts

  • With two draws and a win from their opening three games of the season, Spartak Moscow have stretched their unbeaten league run to five matches (W3 D2).
  • Even more impressive, however, is Lokomotiv Moscow‘s run of matches without incurring defeat, which now stands at 14 (W8 D6 – W2 D1 this season).
  • Each of the last six meetings Spartak Moscow have hosted featured both teams among the goals, while only once in the last four visits were Lokomotiv victorious (W1 D1 L2).

 

Lokomotiv Moscow’s current 14-game unbeaten run was built upon solid defensive foundations, with Under 2.5 Goals landing on 12 occasions. However, goals have flowed more easily with Spartak, whose five-game unbeaten run hasn’t featured a game with less than two goals in it (Over 2.5 Goals in three). Moreover, both teams would score in all of the past six meetings with Spartak as hosts, including last season (1-1).

Best Betting Odds – Spartak Moscow Vs Lokomotiv Moscow

Spartak Moscow – 6/4 (Betway)
Draw – 9/4 (Bet365)
Lokomotiv Moscow – 2/1 (Betfair)