Baltika have shown real improvement after the summer break with their attack firing on all cylinders right from the start of the new campaign. Coming off a tough loss away to CSKA they bounced back strongly by beating Dynamo Moscow and then Krylya Sovetov which has lifted spirits in Kaliningrad ahead of this big clash. The side now sits with five goals already in three league games and looks set to cause more problems for visitors who have struggled on the road lately.
Team Form
Spartak on the other hand have had a mixed start losing their first silverware chance in the super cup before dropping points at home to Krasnodar in the league. Despite an early goal from Manfred Ugalde they could not hold on and that defeat has put pressure on the squad to respond quickly. Their record against this opponent has been poor in recent meetings with three straight losses including clean sheets for the home side.
- Baltika scored five goals in their opening three matches
- Spartak conceded twice in their last league outing despite leading early
- Baltika kept clean sheets in their last three wins over Spartak
- Key striker Brian Hill is nearing full fitness for the hosts
Tactical Analysis
Under their coach the home side tend to raise their game against bigger teams and this fixture brings out that extra motivation. Their defense has looked solid while the forwards create chances consistently even with some squad issues. For Spartak the arrival of new ideas has brought more stability but they still need to find a way past a well organized backline that has shut them out before. Expect an open game with both sides pushing forward which could lead to plenty of goal mouth action in the second half.
Overall the match promises end to end football with Kaliningrad fans likely to see an attacking display from their team looking to extend their winning run against these opponents. Spartak will look to bounce back but the venue and recent history suggest they may concede again while searching for their own goals.
Betting Proposal
Baltika and Spartak to score three goals or more in the match with over 2.5 total goals at odds of 2.08
