The first leg of the 2025/26 Russian Cup RPL Path quarter-final between Spartak and Lokomotiv will take place on November 6 at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow. Spartak vs. Lokomotiv: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Spartak
The Moscow club secured first place in Group C thanks to a 3-1 victory over Makhachkala in the 6th round. Dejan Stanković's side collected a total of 13 points (4 wins and 1 draw in regular time) and edged out Dynamo only on goal difference. Spartak also led the group in goals scored (13) and conceded (5). However, in 6 of their last 8 matches in the national cup, the team failed to keep a clean sheet. Notably, the team has reached the semi-finals of the Russian Cup for four consecutive seasons.
- Both teams scored in 6 of Spartak's last 8 games in the national cup.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 8 of their last 10 matches in this tournament (7 wins, 1 draw).
- Spartak conceded in 7 of their last 9 home games in the Russian Cup.
Predicted lineup for Spartak (4-3-3)
Ilya Pomazun – Yegor Guziev, Ilya Samoshnikov, Alexander Djiku, Alexander Dobroditsky – Nail Umyarov, Christopher Martins, Igor Dmitriev – Anton Zabolotny, Nikita Massalyga, Marquinhos.
Defenders Alexander Djiku and Srdjan Babic are injured.
Lokomotiv
The Railwaymen finished second in their group. The team secured 4 wins and suffered two defeats (one in a penalty shootout) to CSKA, who won Group D. However, Mikhail Galaktionov's men outscored CSKA with 10 goals. Additionally, Lokomotiv kept three clean sheets in the group stage. The club has passed the quarter-final stage in the last three editions of the tournament.
- No more than 3 goals were scored in 10 of Lokomotiv's last 11 games in the national cup.
- The club won 4 of their last 5 away matches in this tournament (1 loss).
- In 5 of their last 7 away games in the Russian Cup, Lokomotiv conceded exactly 1 goal.
Predicted lineup for Lokomotiv (4-5-1)
Ilya Lantratov – Cristian Ramirez, Yegor Pogostnov, Yevgeny Morozov, Maxim Nenakhov – Danil Prutsev, Zelimkhan Bakaev, Sergey Pinyaev, Artem Timofeev, Vladislav Sarveli – Nikolay Komlichenko.
Defender Yevgeny Morozov and forwards Sergey Pinyaev and Dmitry Vorobyov are injured.
Referee
Pavel Kukuyan (Russia)
Matches – 7 (Russian Cup, 2023/24 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 25;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 14%.
Spartak vs. Lokomotiv: Match Prediction
Bookmakers favor Dejan Stanković's squad. Yes, Spartak has the advantage in home head-to-head meetings, but the team's current form makes me skeptical about the odds.
The defeat in the last Premier League round away to Zenit was Lokomotiv's first in their last 17 official matches (9 wins, 7 draws). During this period, Mikhail Galaktionov's team defeated Spartak 4-2. Potential squad rotation in the cup match should not hinder Lokomotiv, as the club has lost only three times in their last 14 away games in this tournament, all by a narrow margin.
Spartak has secured 5 victories this season with at least a two-goal margin. However, it's worth noting the level of opposition: only Rubin is in the top half of the table, while the other opponents are battling for survival. It's unclear why Dejan Stanković's side should confidently defeat Lokomotiv, a team with high ambitions.
My prediction: Lokomotiv with a handicap (+1)
