TFT Issue 484!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Spartak Moscow vs Fenerbahce – home win at 10/11.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League game in Russia between Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce.
Both of these sides are remarkably similar in their temperamental nature, passionate fans, and under-achieving ways. However, I’m going to side with our Russian hosts today and I’ll explain why.
Spartak Moscow only play well in certain scenarios and this should be one of them. They’re awful at coming from behind as their belief is quite poor and they’re especially bad at keeping their cool in those situations. However, as an attacking side, this team is packed full of pace and movement and that will cause opponents problems, especially now that McGeady has returned. Against Rubin Kazan’, Spartak Moscow were a bit lucky, I feel. Rubin were the better side tactically and Spartak rarely threatened them but to be fair to Spartak, they took their chances and ended up winning the game despite the likes of Welliton having spat their dummy out. Spartak are good at scoring goals, though, and it’s hardly a surprise with so many creative players in their team nowadays. I think they lack another winger but aside from that, their attack is as good as any as you’ll find in Russia. The win against Rubin lately should give them confidence to bring into this game, which is essential for Spartak at all times, and therefore I feel that they will do the job today.
Happily Fenerbahce has been poor in all of their games this season. They may have signed some impressive names pre-season but that’s all they’ve done as they’re still playing football like a mid-table Super Lig side. Their favourites are not producing the goods with Sow and Alex disappointing in particular. Praise has been sent Kuyt’s way for his tireless displays but he can’t carry a team. The fact is that Fenerbahce concede goals far too easily and struggle too much to score them. The absence of goalkeeper Volkan Demirel today doesn’t aid their quest and Fenerbahce’s playing style is still under question following Emre’s departure as nobody has taken his place in order to maintain possession in the midfield and launch the attacks.
Therefore, as long as Spartak don’t lose their heads, they really should record a win here. Emenike will be keen to impress against his former club and Spartak have more than enough movement and quality to trouble their opponents for the whole ninety minutes, in my opinion.
Verdict: Spartak Moscow to win at 10/11.
Team news
UEFA Champions League:
Fenerbahce – Volkan Demirel is absent.
CFR Cluj – Deac is absent.
Celtic – Stokes, McGeouch, Murphy, Bangura, Twardzik, Wanyame, and Ibrahim are absent. Forrest, Hooper, McCourt, and Brown are doubts.