The 6th round match of the Russian Premier League (RPL) between Rubin and Spartak Moscow is scheduled for August 23 at the Ak Bars Arena in Kazan. This detailed preview offers a unique prediction, an analysis of the odds, and relevant statistics for this eagerly anticipated clash.

Rubin’s Current Form

Rashid Rakhimov’s squad has seemingly regained their composure after a heavy defeat to CSKA, bouncing back with a crucial 1-0 home victory against Rostov in the previous round. It’s noteworthy that the team secured their first clean sheet in their last four championship matches, while their impressive scoring run now spans 13 consecutive games. Rubin has remained undefeated in 5 of their last 6 RPL encounters (4 wins, 1 draw), accumulating 10 points to position themselves 4th in the overall standings. However, the Kazan side has conceded 8 goals, which is the highest tally among all teams currently occupying the top half of the league table.

Key Statistics for Rubin

• The team has scored at least two goals in 5 of their previous 7 Premier League fixtures.
• At their home ground, Rubin has achieved victory in 9 of their last 10 championship matches (with 1 draw).
• In 9 of their last 11 home RPL encounters, the club has conceded no more than one goal.

Rubin’s Projected Lineup (4-4-2)

Evgeny Staver – Egor Teslenko, Igor Vujačić, Aleksey Gritsaenko, Dmitry Kabutov – Veldin Hodža, Ugochukwu Iwu, Aleksandr Yukich, Bogdan Jočić – Dardan Shabanhaxhaj, Mirlind Daku.

Rubin Team News

Defender Denil Maldonado will miss the match due to an injury.

Spartak Moscow’s Recent Performance

The capital club settled for a 2-2 draw at home against Zenit in their last fixture. Dejan Stanković’s side is currently on a four-match winless streak in the RPL (2 draws, 2 defeats). This represents Spartak’s longest winless run since the start of the 2023/24 season. Furthermore, in 3 of these 4 games, the Muscovites conceded at least two goals, bringing their total conceded goals to 10 – a worse defensive record is only held by Sochi (15). Spartak currently occupies 10th place in the league table.

Key Statistics for Spartak Moscow

• Fewer than three goals were scored in 4 of Moscow’s last 5 away games in the Premier League.
• Away from home, the team has avoided defeat in 6 of their previous 8 championship matches (3 wins, 3 draws).
• Spartak has managed to score against Kazan in 7 of their last 9 head-to-head RPL encounters.

Spartak Moscow’s Projected Lineup (3-5-2)

Aleksandr Maksimenko – Srđan Babić, Daniil Denisov, Alexis Duarte – Nail Umyarov, Ezequiel Barco, Christopher Martins, Gedson Fernandes, Ruslan Litvinov – Marquinhos, Manfred Ugalde.

Spartak Team News

Forward Théo Bongonda is currently injured. Defender Ilya Samoshnikov has joined the squad.

Match Official

Rafael Shafeev (Russia)

• Matches officiated – 9 (RPL, 2024/25 – 2025/26);
• Yellow cards shown (including second yellow cards) – 30;
• Average yellow cards per match – 3.3;
• Red cards shown – 3;
• Average fouls per match – 24;
• Penalties awarded – 33%.

Rubin vs Spartak Moscow: Match Prediction

In their last match, Rubin secured a victory with just a single goal. The team’s scoring run in the championship now extends to 13 matches. However, during this impressive period, Rubin has managed to keep only four clean sheets. Therefore, it is anticipated that the upcoming fixture against their rivals will also be a high-scoring affair for Rashid Rakhimov’s side. Spartak’s matches in the current championship have similarly been rich in goals.

The Moscow club only managed to keep a clean sheet in the first round. Subsequently, Spartak has conceded 10 goals in four matches, and their xGA (Expected Goals Against) metric is the fifth-worst in the league. Nevertheless, Dejan Stanković’s squad possesses significant attacking potential: they have netted 13 goals in their last 7 RPL games and have scored in 11 of their last 14 away fixtures in this tournament.

Both teams have also found the back of the net in 7 of their last 9 head-to-head encounters at Rubin’s home ground in the Premier League. It is highly probable that both sides will score again in this match. My prediction: “Both Teams to Score – Yes” with odds 1.75