Spartak Moscow vs. Barcelona: UEFA Champions League Preview and Prediction

The FC Barcelona squad have arrived in Russia for their next Group G UEFA Champions League match against Spartak Moscow. According to the Barca website, they will train Monday before facing the Russians Tuesday.

Tito Vilanova, the La Blaugrana manager, and Cesc Fabregas will hold a press conference for their team. Umai Emery, the Spanish-born Spartak Moscow manager, will do the same for the Russians.

What is at stake in this match and who will prevail? The answer is based on the preview and prediction of this vital match for both teams. 

Spartak Moscow

The Russians are currently in last place in the Group G UCL table. The list of players that are injured will not help their cause in this match.

Midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is expected to be out due to an abdominal injury requiring surgery. The Bilyaletdinov injury was reported on the UEFA webpage.

Bilyaletdinov's expected recovery will last during the rest of Spartak Moscow's UCL group matches. According to The Himalayan Times with a h/t to Reuters, Sergei Pesyakov, Artem Dzyuba, Artem Rebrov and Andriy Dykan are on the injured list.

Dykan and Rebrov suffered a shoulder injury. Pesyakov has a foot fracture and Dzyuba a hamstring injury.

The list of injuries continues with Romulo, Aiden McGeady, Sergei Parshivlyuk and Welliton. The Russians won only one of their matches (against Benfica last October) during the current UCL season.

Regardless of their current state, Spartak Moscow should not be underestimated. They almost defeated Barca when the two met at Camp Nou last September.

FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona is currently in first place in the Group G UCL matches. They barely defeated Spartak Moscow, 3-2, and lost to Celtic the second time.

La Blaugrana left Benfica scoreless and are secured a place in the UCL with this victory. Alexis Sanchez and Marc Bartra will not participate because of injury.

Bartta, a defender, has an injury to the adductor muscle. Sanchez has an ankle ligament that was damaged during a match for the Chilean national team.

It is hoped that La Blaugrana learned a lesson from its last match against Celtic. Barca had possession but underestimated the opponent and gave Celtic a victory.

Prediction

The match between Spartak Moscow and FC Barcelona is expected to be an intense match. The two teams will score and not allow concessions to each other.

La Blaugrana is expected to prevail in this match after facing resistance from Spartak Moscow and their supporters. The score is expected to be the following.

Spartak Moscow 3-4 FC Barcelona