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Rangers – Spartak | Russian Football News

I started off my last Spartak European preview describing them as a club in crisis. Well, that crisis just increased tenfold this week, with the ludicrous sacking of immensely popular Italian coach Massimo Carrera.

Six weeks ago, the Red-Whites were still in the Champions League, still had Quincy Promes, few injuries and were right on Zenit St. Petersburg’s coattails at the top of the RPL.

Now, they have lost their talisman to Sevilla, key central defender Samuel Gigot to injury, lost to PAOK on the pitch in the UCL qualifiers before being easily dismantled by Rapid Wien in the opening Europa League group game. To top it all off, they were mere seconds away from a fantastic victory at home to Villarreal, only to be denied in the 96th minute by Santi Cazorla.

Tactical Analysis

Massimo Carrera had come under a lot of scrutiny before his sacking as he has tried different combinations to no avail, suspended two leaders in the side and had been unable to find a goalscoring formula.

However, the Italian did not control transfers, and clearly would not have green-lit the Promes transfer for such a paltry sum with zero time to replace him. Since he left and Samuel Gigot was injured, Spartak picked up just two points and scored five goals in seven games (including one against third-tier side Chernomorets Novorossiysk).

They lack a genuine creative spark, and despite being solid defensively, a mistake is always inevitable. The Arsenal game typifies the problems; rarely look like scoring, defensive mistakes and a general lack of approach.

Team News

It is anyone’s guess as to how they will line-up. Carrera has gone and his Spanish assistant Raul Riancho has taken over. A few fringe players may be recalled if so Pedro Rocha and Aleksandr Tashaev could be deployed wide in a counter-attacking system, or he could go with sheer physicality; Ze

Luis is a man-mountain up top, and Spartak have scored the most and conceded the least goals from set pieces in the RPL this season.

Denis Glushakov and Andrei Eschenko, no-longer suspended, were left out of the squad to Glasgow as they are essentially public enemies #1 and #2 in the eyes of the Spartak fans, who have demanded the termination of the former’s contract.

Aleksandr Selikhov and Samuel Gigot are still unavailable through long-term injury.

Key Players

Roman Zobnin – The central midfield dynamo has been Spartak’s most underrated player for years but has finally been given centre stage since Promes’ departure. Although I prefer him in a deeper, box-to-box role he has been somewhat transformed playing as a creative fulcrum and is now even a Cryuff-turn specialist. If Spartak is to get everything from the game, he needs to dominate the midfield.

Ze Luis – The giant striker is a vital part of Spartak’s build-up play, allowing his teammates to run off him with some effective physical play as a target man. However, I sincerely doubt he has the individual quality to score at an elite, European level. This being said, he will almost certainly play, being the Red-Whites’ only available striker for the next two games, it is imperative he starts scoring soon.

Aleksandr Tashaev – Although I supported Carrera to the bitter end and am fully against his sacking, one decision I constantly derided was his continued treatment of Tashaev. He is arguably one of very few in the whole side who currently possess genuine match-winning ability, and is the perfect replacement for Promes on the left.

Predicted Lineup

4-2-3-1: Maksimenko – Rasskazov, Kutepov, Dzhikiya, Kombarov – Fernando, Zobnin – Tashaev, Eremenko, Melgarejo – Ze Luis.

Prediction

Expect a high-tempo game as the Spartak players will work very hard and make up a lot of ground for their respected former assistant and fitness coach. However, they face an almost insurmountable task to get out of the group, currently lying bottom.

Expect high-flying Alfredo Morelos to be too much for Spartak, although both sides are in fact reasonably well matched. Rangers’ home advantage will likely see them edge it.

Rangers 2 – 1 Spartak