Spartak heading for the knockout stages
It doesn’t get more exciting than this in Group C of the Europa League. After all, on the last matchday of the group stage, all four teams still have a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the Europa League. Among them is Legia Warsaw, who are in last place in the table with six points on their account.
This week, the “Legionisci” face a showdown against Spartak Moscow. As expected, the hosts from Warsaw are the underdogs. Legia have had a mixed season so far and have fallen short of the high expectations, especially in the Ekstraklasa. The Polish champions are now facing the next setback on the international stage.
If the Polish hosts defy the odds, Legia Warsaw vs. Spartak Moscow offers odds of up to 3.00 for tip 1. Legia’s recent record against Spartak is particularly encouraging. Most recently, the “Legionisci” have beaten the Muscovites two times in a row.
In the first leg of the current EL group stage, among other things, there was a narrow last-minute away victory (1:0) in the Russian capital, in which Legia benefited above all from the inability of the Moscow offensive.
Legia Warsaw – Statistics & current form
Last season with the championship in the Polish top flight, Legia is one of the problem children of the Ekstraklasa this season. Fifteen matchdays into the season – with two catch-up games still to come – last year’s champions are even in one of the three relegation places. So far, Legia have picked up only twelve points and have already suffered eleven defeats.
As expected, head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz, the former national coach of the Polish U20, was also dismissed after the false start. Marek Golebiewski took over the reins at the “Legionisci” on an interim basis. Under his leadership, however, the desired turnaround at Legia failed to materialise.
The Warsaw team has lost six of its last nine competitive matches. Among them were two group matches in the Europa League. It is quite possible that the international knockout will follow this week. Especially since Legia already lost the dress rehearsal before the home match with Spartak.
Legia’s defensive line far too vulnerable
Until now, Legia Warsaw’s weak defensive line has been the big construction site this season. In the Ekstraklasa, interim coach Golebiewski’s team has already conceded 26 goals in 15 matchdays, making it one of the most vulnerable defences in the league.
In the European Cup, however, the defence only made a good impression on the first two matchdays. Since then, the last three matchdays have seen ten goals in the box – an average of more than three goals conceded. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the hosts from Warsaw have stumbled in their own stadium.
Before the recent home win against Jagiellonia, Legia had lost four home games in a row. Legia Warsaw have also never won a home match against their upcoming opponents from Moscow in two attempts. Legia will be short-staffed for their third home match against Spartak, with five players out through injury.
Predicted line-up of Legia Warsaw:
Boruc – Ribeiro, Holownia, Wietewska, Nawrocki – Luquinhas, Slisz, Josue – Mladenovic, Pekhart, Gomes
Last matches played by Legia Warsaw:
Ekstraklasa
12/05 2021 – Cracovia 1 – 0 Legia Warsaw
FA Cup
12/01 2021 – Motor Lubin 1 – 2 Legia Warsaw
Ekstraklasa
11/28 2021 – Legia Warsaw 1 – 0 Bialystok
Europa League Grp. C
11/25 2021 – Leicester 3 – 1 Legia Warsaw
Ekstraklasa
11/21 2021 – Gornik Zabrze 3 – 2 Legia Warsaw
Spartak Moscow – Statistics & current form
After the internal turmoil in the summer, it was predictable that Spartak Moscow would stumble this season. Nevertheless, the Moscow board has so far decided against a change of coach despite a false start. Rui Vitoria, successor to ex-Schalker Domenico Tedesco, can now repay the trust placed in him by reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League.
Because Spartak Moscow won their last group game against SSC Napoli, the Russian representatives have a place in the knockout phase of the Europa League in their group final against Legia Warsaw in their own hands. In the best-case scenario, a draw would be enough to secure second place with a little bit of help from the shooting gallery.
In a successful scenario, Spartak even have the chance to win the group. One encouraging aspect ahead of the away game in Warsaw is the record against Polish clubs. In seven competitive matches against teams from Poland, Spartak Moscow have lost only twice. Both defeats, however, came in the most recent two games against Legia.
Continues Spartak’s away woes?
Nevertheless, Spartak do not have an easy task on their agenda away from home. The Red and Whites have failed to win any of their last four competitive matches at an opponent’s stadium. Among other things, there was also an away debacle in St. Petersburg in which Spartak conceded seven goals.
Nevertheless, the away record on the international stage shows that there is enough potential to master the match against Legia. Against Leicester, Spartak earned an important point, and in Naples they even scored an away coup.
In contrast to the short-staffed hosts from Warsaw, Spartak Moscow will also be at full strength for the showdown with the Polish representatives. It would therefore not be out of place to make a prediction on the Russian guests in Legia Warsaw vs. Spartak Moscow, especially as odds of up to 2.38 are offered in the event of success.
Predicted line-up of Spartak Moscow:
Selikhov – Lucas, Dzhikiya, Gigot, Denisov – Litvinov, Hendrix – Promes, Ignatov, Moses – Sobolev
Last matches played by Spartak Moscow:
Premier League
12/04 2021 – Spartak Moscow 2 – 1 FK Akhmat
11/29 2021 – FK Ufa 1 – 1 Spartak Moscow
Europa League Grp. C
11/24 2021 – Spartak Moscow 2 – 1 SSC Napoli
Premier League
11/20 2021 – FK Krasnodar 2 – 1 Spartak Moscow
11/07 2021 – Spartak Moscow 1 – 1 Lokomotive Moscow
Legia Warsaw – Spartak Moscow Direct comparison / H2H record
For the sixth time Legia Warsaw and Spartak Moscow meet in the European Cup. So far, the direct comparison between the two clubs is even. Both clubs have celebrated two victories each, while one match ended in a draw. In the last two competitive matches – both in Moscow, mind you – Legia came out on top.
Legia Warsaw – Spartak Moscow Tip
Spartak Moscow will go into the showdown in Warsaw with a broad chest. After all, the Red and Whites have the entry into the knockout phase of the Europa League in their own hands. In a worst-case scenario, even a minimal point win could be enough to master Group C of the Europa League.
Because the upcoming opponents from Warsaw have lost their last three group games, it is quite likely that Spartak Moscow will also overcome the away hurdle in Poland. In any case, Spartak have never lost an away game at Legia before.
Although Legia have lost six of their last eight competitive matches, we tend to expect a close match in Warsaw. Nevertheless, it would be more than surprising if the Polish hosts win the group final against the Muscovites in their current form.
Before the landmark match against Spartak, Legia suffered a heavy defeat in the Ekstraklasa, thus squandering the momentum of two consecutive victories – including a cup match. With a stake of five units, our betting odds on Legia Warsaw vs. Spartak Moscow are 2.38 on an away win
