Spartak Moscow v Dynamo Moscow
Football: Russian Premier League. 1st matchday
Sunday, 14th March 2010. Kickoff 17:00

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Spartak Moscow

Ever ambitious, but not particularly fortunate, Spartak Moscow is looking at the new season with traditional optimism and high hopes.

The Red-Whites were quite active on the transfer market in mid-season bringing in Czech Republic defender Marek Suchy (Slavia Prague), Montenegrin international central midfielder Nicola Drincic (Amkar Perm), striker Ari (AZ Alkmaar) and Sheshukov (FC Moscow).

Valery Karpin continues to be a unique figure in Russian football as he is combining two functions at the Club: general manager and head coach. This was his first pre-season preparation and it will be very interesting to see how he has coped.

Nicola Drincic got badly injured during one of the friendlies and is ruled out until summer. Everyone else is fit and ready to run.

Expected formation and line up :
Spartak Moscow (4-2-3-1)
Dzhanaev
Parshivlyuk, Stranzl, Jiranek, Makeev
Ibson, Suchy
Yakovlev, Alex, Saenko
Welliton

Unavailable
mid. N. Drincic (regular),
mid. Maidana (supporting),
gk. S. Pletikosa (supporting);

Dynamo Moscow

Dynamo Moscow received a major cash investment from their sponsors in midseason and all of a sudden line up alongside Zenit as one of the wealthiest clubs in the country.

Their transfer activity was strongly oriented on home front, only Andrey Voronin’s arrival from Liverpool stands out.

Head coach Andrey Kobelev invited a group of former FC Moskva recruits: central defender Epurianu, wingers Cesnauskis and Samedov, central midfielder Rebko. Igor Semshov made a come back to Dynamo after a short spell at Zenit St.Petersburg.

Semshov's return was part of the transfer, which sends high-profile striker Alexandr Kerzhakov back to the cultural capital of Russia.
Kerzhakov’s departure is certainly the most significant loss for Dynamo.

Andrey Kobelev has adjusted the formation and the starting line up. Their wingplay should be especially lethal in the upcoming season with Kombarov brothers supporting Cesnauskis and Samedov from the deep.

Dynamo is without regular center back Denis Kolodin for this one. He is the only concern for Andrey Kobelev.

Expected formation and line up :
Dynamo Moscow (4-2-3-1)
Gabulov
K. Kombarov, Epurianu, Fernandez, D. Kombarov
Samedov, Semshov, Khoklov, Rebko, Cesnauskis
Voronin

Unavailable
cd. D. Kolodin (important);

Betting advice

I disagree with the market on this one. Making Spartak Moscow such favorites in a derby, against the team which they failed to beat on last three occasions.

Moreover Valery Karpin has no experience at pre-season training and no one can guarantee he did not make mistakes in the process.

Betting on favorites in the opening rounds of the season is a risky thing, so a shot at Dynamo (+0.5) is worthy attempt.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Dynamo Moscow (+0.5 ah) @ 1.75 with Bet365