The game is on Thursday.

However, it is worth praising the reform of the Cup of Russia – thanks to it, we watch the best matches more often! Yes, and Guillermo Abascal will have more attempts to defeat Zenith. The first two matches ended with the champion’s victory, but there is room for a sensation in the Cup – Krylya Sovetov proved.

Good to know about Spartak

– First – permutations at the top of the club. The process of transferring Spartak to Lukoil was delayed, this may explain specific summer transfers. Yesterday there were important changes in the board of directors. President – Alexander Matytsyn, participants – Pavel Zhdanov, Ivan Maslyaev and Evgeny Khavkin. All of them are Lukoil leaders. Matytsyn and Zhdanov worked with finance at the oil company – they will likely have a similar role at Spartak. In addition, the new owners have decided to trust Evgeny Melezhikov and Sergey Rodionov: they are already familiar with the structure of the Moscow team and will combine positions in the council with work in the club. What kind of discharge Spartak will get from this is still unknown.

– In terms of results, Guillermo Abascal’s wards do not allow a strong fall. Yes, there were defeats by Zenith and Rostov: it was feared that they would be followed by an abrupt failure, as in the case of CSKA Berezutsky last spring. But the victories over Fakel and Lokomotiv reassured me. Spartak approaches the cup match with St. Petersburg with the awareness of not being invincible.

– Abascal has finally started contacting rotating players. Christopher Martins, Victor Mozes was injured in red and white, now Roman Zobnin has health problems. Without them it will be tough for Spartak in the center of the field. However, there are problems on the flanks of the defense. If Khlusevich is still able to close one of the edges, the Denisov slider on the right is hardly needed: it is not clear when it will be cut again. In the previous two, the Spanish coach released Daniil Prutsev, Pavel Maslov and Leon Klassen. Prutsev can give a lot of work and at the same time does not get lost under pressure, like Umyarov. The move to 3 power plants with Maslov, Jikia and Mevley (Chernov can go out) and the appearance of Klassen on the wing eliminate the need to look for a place for Denisov. Guillermo is looking for ways to add flexibility to the team in case the diamond doesn’t work. Even if in the league he is in no hurry to give up the 4-3-1-2.

Approximate composition of “Spartak” (4-3-1-2): Selikhov – Klassen, Jikia, Mevlya, Khlusevich – Prutsev, Litvinov, Denisov, Ignatov – Promes, Nicholson.

Good to know about Zenith

– The depth of the Zenit bench allows Semak to rotate the squad without a strong loss of the quality of the game in the league and the Cup and bring Claudinho, who recovered from the injury, back to the base. Krugovoy and Adamov on the defensive flanks can replace Santos and Karavaev, in the center Alip and Chistyakov in place of the Rodrigao-Lovren duo. In midfield not Kuzyaev with Wendel and Barrios, but Mantua, Erokhin and Claudinho.

– The coach continues to divide the game time between Mateo Cassierra and Ivan Sergeev. The Russian does not lose in performances and has already repeated the data of last year after moving to Zenit: 4 goals scored and 2 assists. It is more difficult for the Colombian to adapt: ​​he has not yet scored a single goal, even though he has given 3 assists. The winger Andriy Mostovoy and Malcom have taken over, they are the best scorers of the blue-white-blue.

– It is not clear when we will see Daniil Odoevsky at the door of Zenit. In his absence, Mikhail Kerzhakov assumed the status of the main goalkeeper. The Brazilian Ivan is satisfied with the outings in the Cup, but for now we should not hope for more, especially in the duel with Spartak.

Approximate formation of Zenith (4-3-3): Kerzhakov – Krugovoi, Rodrigao, Chistyakov, Karavaev – Barrios, Mantua, Claudinho – Bakaev, Cassierra, Malcolm

Good to know about the comparison

– This is the third match between the teams this season – in the previous two Zenit have won.

– Abascal chose different strategies for the Super Bowl match and the championship match. At first, the Spaniard decided to act in the usual way, through the “rumble”. The humidity of the idea, as well as the teamwork and the solidity of the opponent, prevented the fight from being imposed on the champion. A second time a series of leading injuries prompted Guillermo to play number two. The red and white had a minimum of moments, the result was the same: defeat.

– With terrible personal match statistics, Spartak are leading in their Russian Cup group and Zenit are only third. This happened due to the unexpected victory of “Wings” over St. Petersburg in the second round. The Muscovites beat Fakel in a parallel match.

– Zenit have not lost to Spartak in their last 11 games.

Forecast Soccer.it: despite the fact that Spartak objectively does not have a power reserve like Sergei Semak’s, anything can happen in a single match. First, Muscovites themselves must be determined to win, neither in the Super Bowl, nor in the 8th round. RPL it wasn’t. Second, Zenith can only lose through lack of alignment: blue-white-blue are not affected in status meetings. Thirdly, one should not abandon the usual strategy, such a step did not bring results either to Spartak or CSKA – but “Akhmat” in the usual way put pressure on the Petersburgers, for which he was awarded a draw. I believe more that Zenit will once again show a master class on the opening of the red and white defense and on victory.