The second leg of the 2025/26 Fonbet Russian Cup RPL Path semi-final between Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Moscow will take place on 18 March at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow. The score in the first leg was 5:2 in favour of Dynamo Moscow. Spartak Moscow vs Dynamo Moscow: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Spartak Moscow
Spartak Moscow lost 2:5 in the first leg. The defeat not only ended the club's run of four straight wins in the Russian Cup, but also saw them suffer their first heavy loss in the competition since October 2023. Interestingly, on that occasion as well, Dynamo Moscow were the side that handed the club that setback. It is also worth adding that the home team have conceded in six consecutive matches in the national cup. However, the Moscow side themselves have scored at least two goals in five straight games. To reach the RPL Path final, Juan Carlos Carcedo's men need to win the return leg by at least four goals, and the club have already recorded such a victory in this season's tournament.
- Both teams have scored in Spartak Moscow's last six matches in the national cup.
- At home, Spartak Moscow have not lost in regular time in five of their last seven Russian Cup games (4 wins, 1 draw).
- The club have conceded in five of their previous six home matches in this tournament.
Potential Spartak Moscow Lineup (3-4-3)*
Aleksandr Maksimenko – Daniil Denisov, Ruslan Litvinov, Aleksandr Dzhikiya – Ezequiel Barco, Nail Umyarov, Gedson Fernandes, Roman Zobnin – Manfred Ugalde, Marquinhos, Vladislav Saus.
Defenders Srdjan Babic and Ilya Samoshnikov are in the treatment room.
Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow continue to rack up big wins in this season's competition. The previous one was already their third, while overall Dynamo Moscow have won in regular time in four of their last six Russian Cup matches (1 draw, 1 loss). In addition, in four games during that run, the club kept a clean sheet. That solid defence should help Rolan Gusev's men protect the advantage they have built up, especially as even a two-goal defeat would be enough for them. If the team lose by exactly three goals, the tie will go to a penalty shootout.
- At least one team failed to score in six of Dynamo Moscow's last eight Russian Cup matches.
- Away from home in this tournament, the Moscow club have avoided defeat after 90 minutes in seven of their previous nine matches (4 wins, 3 draws).
- In five of their last seven away games in the national cup, the team have not conceded more than one goal.
Potential Dynamo Moscow Lineup (4-3-3)*
Andrey Lunev – Maksim Osipenko, Juan Caceres, David Ricardo – Rubens Dias, Aleksandr Kutitskiy, Anton Miranchuk, Dmitry Skopintsev – Moumi Ngamaleu, Konstantin Tyukavin, Bitello.
Defenders Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov and Milan Majstorovic, forward Moumi Ngamaleu, goalkeepers Andrey Lunev and Igor Leshchuk, as well as midfielders Anton Miranchuk and Luis Chavez are in the treatment room.
Referee
Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
Matches – 8 (Russian Cup, 2023/24 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 33;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.1;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 25%.
Spartak Moscow vs Dynamo Moscow: Match Prediction
After the spectacle the teams produced in the first leg, many are expecting more of the same. But it is not guaranteed that the second act will be as goal-laden. Rolan Gusev's side have a comfortable advantage, and at the same time many Dynamo Moscow players remember last season's 0:3 defeat to Spartak Moscow in the Russian Cup. Repeating that result is not something they will want. We expect the visitors to approach this in a pragmatic manner, and in any case a club cannot maintain the same level across so many consecutive matches. In the last Russian Premier League round, Dynamo Moscow were limited to just one goal, and on Sunday they face a tough trip to Saint Petersburg.
Spartak Moscow, meanwhile, faced Zenit in the last league round. Juan Carlos Carcedo's men were highly prolific in matches against Sochi and Akron, but did not register a single shot on target against the Saint Petersburg side. Dynamo Moscow, it is worth recalling, have four clean sheets in this season's competition, so the visitors can regroup and defend reliably. Spartak Moscow, in any case, will still have the option to fight for the trophy via the lower bracket of the tournament, so the question of winning at all costs may not be decisive. Especially with the league game in Orenburg coming up on artificial turf, it could make sense to rest key players in this situation.
Prediction: Under 3.5 goals
* For each team, the starting XI listed is from their previous match in this tournament.
