Lokomotiv Moscow vs Spartak Moscow: preview
We outline the expectations for the Lokomotiv Moscow vs Spartak Moscow match in the context of the 13th round of the Russian league 2026/27 season.
"Spartak" has fallen out of the top three zone. To avoid losing the advantage, it is necessary to beat the problematic "Lokomotiv".
Key points
Lokomotiv Moscow
1. "Lokomotiv" remains in crisis, Galaktionov is ready to leave
The winless streak in all competitions has reached four matches, and overall "Loco" has only two victories since the start of the season. In the league the team clings to the survival battle zone, with only two points in 15th place. In the last match against "Rostov" (0:2) "Lokomotiv" failed to touch the ball in the RPL goal for the first time in eight years.
Only "Loco" played against CSKA in the Russian Cup, and that derby decided the club's future in the tournament. In the first half the "railways" tried to fight and recovered one of the two lost goals, but then gave up. After the fifth defeat in five rounds, "Lokomotiv" lost the chance to reach third place. Mikhail Galaktionov answered the question about his exit saying that anything is possible. However, according to the sporting director, the "Loco" board fully supports the coach.
2. Some players doubtful
Midfielder Sergei Babkin missed two matches due to injury, winger Sergei Pinyayev due to a cold. Defender Cesar Montes was injured a day before the match against "Rostov", another attacker Zelimkhan Bakayev was sent off during the game. Before the derby with CSKA, defender Alexander Silyanov felt feverish. The five players were not included in the squad for the cup match and it is still uncertain who will be available on Sunday.
3. In important matches "Loco" does not win
Throughout the season "Lokomotiv" has lost the four capital derbies: two in the league and two in the Cup. Three times lost to CSKA, and at the end of August was also defeated by "Dynamo".
When considering RPL matches against top-table teams, "Loco" has only one point out of twelve possible. It only avoided a loss against "Krasnodar" (3:3) in the last encounter at "RZD Arena"; the Moscowers should have won but missed twice in the final minutes. "Lokomotiv" fights and does not fall behind by more than a goal, but the results remain sad.
Spartak Moscow
1. "Spartak" must return to the top three zone
Despite the instability, "Spartak" showed a good run with four wins in five matches. However, their opponents were mediocre and outsiders of the league. When the derby against CSKA arrived, we saw a goalless defeat. "Spartak" lost the first 25 minutes and then fought against goalkeeper Maxim Borisko, who made ten saves at the end of the game.
It seemed that in the coming days "Spartak" would recover against the crisis "Rubin", which had just changed coaches. However, the home cup match was won with great effort: the only goal came in the sixth minute. Nevertheless, "Spartak" almost guarantees first place in the group. Now it is time to improve its position in the RPL.
2. After cup rotation an optimal team is expected
This week Juan Carlos Carcedo played most of the starters, making seven substitutions compared to the match against CSKA. Only defender Viktor Parada, midfielders Naiel Umyar and Danil Prutov, and winger Markinos remained in the starting lineup. Only Prutov and Parada played the full 90 minutes.
Now the leaders must return to the squad. Among the rotation players only the versatile Igor Dmitriev stood out, who was used as a winger; perhaps now they will give him the chance to play from the start, only on the periphery of the defense.
3. "Lokomotiv" can be considered a comfortable opponent
Since the 2022/23 season only two defeats in 12 matches have been recorded, including the Cup. It is notable that only once a derby ended in a draw: that was three years ago. "Spartak" won 75% of the matches, and the winning streak continues in three encounters.
Regardless of the result, "Spartak" and "Loco" regularly offer a brilliant spectacle: in the last nine matches both teams scored. The last seven encounters were high-scoring. Often shootout duels occur, with an average of 4.67 goals.
Approximate lineups
4-2-3-14-2-3-11
Mitryushkin 45
Silyanov 85
Morozov 5
Niyamsi 24
Nenhahov 75
Yeremeev 18
Titkov 77
Mostoñov 8
Kovalenko 19
Rudenkov 27
Komlichenko 98
Maksimenkov 47
Zobnin 68
Litvinov 6
Babich 27
Dmitriev 18
Umárov 25
Prutov 7
Solari 5
Barco 10
Markinos 9
Ugaldé
Betting on the trend
"Spartak" won four of the last five matches against "Lokomotiv". P2 at 1.71.
In the last nine encounters "Lokomotiv" and "Spartak" scored both teams. OZ — yes at 1.66.
Prediction
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Spartak Moscow 01.11.2026 20:45
"Lokomotiv" still has major problems. In the last league round they had no opportunities against "Rostov" at home (0:2) — here the "railways" didn't even reach the goal, the first time since 2018. Consequently, they returned to the survival battle zone. Then we saw another nervous game and a defeat in the cup derby against CSKA (1:3), although that match determined future participation in the tournament. It seems Galaktionov is morally ready to resign, but he will not leave alone — and the board continues to express support.
"Spartak" also fell last weekend in the derby against CSKA, only in the league. Because of this it fell to fifth place in the table. Now it needs to correct and return as soon as possible to the top three zone. Carcedo's team remains unstable, but overall it seems more convincing. In addition, "Lokomotiv" is a comfortable opponent — on Sunday "Spartak" can win its fourth consecutive victory.
Prediction: 1-2
