CSKA Moscow vs Spartak Moscow: preview
We describe the lineups for the match between CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow in the context of the twelfth round of the Russian Premier League for the 2026/27 season. The top‑table rivals have special preparations for the derby: both teams are in the leaders’ zone and are separated by only one point. CSKA can beat the opponent and Spartak can gain an advantage.
Key points
CSKA Moscow
1. CSKA suffered its first defeat in the RPL
Before the break for national teams, CSKA had won most of its matches by narrow margins. Additionally, almost half of the league games ended in draws. In October they started with a 3-0 rout of Rodina and then also beat Rostov in the Russian Cup (4-0). However, they then faced an away derby against Dynamo: a battle for absolute league leadership. Most of the time at VTB Arena the score was level, and at times it was a match with three possible outcomes. But CSKA lacked the energy for the final minutes. Two goals in the closing stages led to the first defeat of the season in the RPL. As a result, the soldiers fell to fourth place.
2. Gonzalo Hondo is suspended, there is a question about the goalkeeper
Vladislav Torop made two mistakes in the episode with Dynamo’s first goal. After that, the CSKA player partially corrected himself, but the question is whether he will keep his place in the starting XI. If Maxim Borisko appears in goal, it will not be a big surprise. There will be no headaches with the choice of the striker this time. Recently, the competition was won by Luciano Hondo, but he is now unavailable, so the attack will be led by Tamirlan Musayev. There is also a risk that midfielder Mateo Alves may not be able to help due to injury.
3. CSKA does not lose at home in the league
In spring several defeats were recorded during Fabio Chesta’s crisis period, but with the arrival of Dmitry Igdisamov CSKA lost only one of ten home matches in all competitions. The only failure occurred in the Cup: in August the team surrendered to Akron (0-1).
In the current RPL season at home they have earned 15 points from 21 possible: the third best result in the league, only surpassed by Dynamo and Spartak Moscow (16). CSKA has never lost, but only achieved a win in four of seven matches, and has not yet faced teams in the top five.
Spartak Moscow
1. Spartak has not lost five consecutive matches
The last defeat was also in an away derby against Dynamo: Spartak suffered that loss early in September (1-2). Throughout the season we regularly see the same picture: the reds and whites play quality matches and win, and a few days later show a frankly weak game. And vice versa.
In the last five meetings, including the Cup, Spartak has four victories, but difficulties have also emerged. For example, after the 3-0 rout of Rostov, the team struggled to beat Fakel (1-0). And after the draw with Krylya Sovetov, Spartak fired four unanswered shots in the home game against Rubin (4-0). The table position remains acceptable: before the weekend the Moscowers were in third place, two points behind the leader Dynamo.
2. Maximénko and Jeddson return
In Spartak there is also no clarity with the number one in goal. Ilya Pomazun finally got practice in the RPL and scored a “dry boot” in the match against Rubin. However, before that he made a mistake in the cup game against Rodina. The former suspended player Alexander Maximénko seems to be the main candidate for the starting XI.
In the defensive line Jeddson Fernandes should return. The Portuguese will cover the right flank, Roman Zobnin will likely move to the left.
3. The derby with CSKA is always intense
There have been no defeats in this rivalry since December 2017: then Spartak won 3-0 at home. In the previous ten matches, the intrigue was felt until the last minute: in November 2024 the reds and whites won 2-0, but the second goal was scored at the end, and in other cases the teams shared at most one goal.
In the mentioned period Spartak has a notable advantage: five wins versus two for CSKA. However, at the away stadium it is usually more difficult. Since the 2017/18 season Spartak has won only two of ten matches at VEB Arena, half of which ended in defeat.
Estimated formations
5-4-14-2-3-149
Torop3
Krugovoy23
Abdulkadyrov79
Danilov4
Vitor21
Azzi19
Olenikov31
Kislyak10
Oblyakov17
Glebov11
Musayev98
Maximénko83
Fernandes68
Litvinov6
Babich47
Zobnin18
Umyarov25
Prutyev7
Solari5
Barco10
Markinós9
Gualde
Betting on the trend
CSKA has not lost three of the last four home matches against Spartak. 1X at 1.66.
In four of six previous games, CSKA and Spartak scored a maximum of two goals. TM 2.5 at 2.12.
Prediction
CSKA Moscow vs Spartak Moscow 25.10.2026 16:00
CSKA finally broke the unbeaten streak in the RPL, but only lost at home against Dynamo, who is on the rise and breaking club records and has not lost for more than two months. Even this meeting could have ended very differently: in an approximately equal game, the soldiers did not have the energy for the final.
Now there is another great derby, but already at VEB Arena. The home‑field factor is a very important moment, because under Igdisamov CSKA lost only one home meeting against Akron in the Russian Cup.
Spartak remains undefeated over five consecutive matches, and four of them were victories. However, in this period they were lucky with the schedule and even here problems arose from time to time: for example, in the games with Krylya Sovetov and Fakel. In the derbies with CSKA in recent years there is an advantage, but mainly thanks to home matches. In the away zone Spartak probably cannot win the three points.
Prediction: 1-1
