Played
October 23, 2012 5:00 PM WAT
Olimpiyskiy stadion Luzhniki — Moskva
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎
Attendance:‬ 41237‎
 
3′ Rafael Carioca
Lima 33′
43′ (OG) Jardel Nivaldo Vieira
 

Spartak Moscow - Benfica Preview: Muscovites must make the most of home advantage to kick-start their campaign

Both the Red-Whites and the Eagles will look for points here knowing that with Barcelona in Group G, realistically, there is only one other qualification spot up for grabs

By Gregor MacGregor

More On :  Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Spartak Moscow vs Benfica
Barcelona, Spartak Moscow
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS
SPARTAK MOSCOW

Dikan
Makeev, Bryzgalov, Suchy, Kombarov
Rafael, Kallstrom
Jurado, Ari, Bil'yov
Welliton
BENFICA

Moraes
 Pereira, Jardel, Garay, Melgarejo
Salvio, Matic, Martins
Aimar, Gaitan
Cardozo

Following their narrow 2-1 loss to Anzhi Makhachkala at the weekend, Spartak coach Unai Emery must decide whether to give on-loan attacking midfielder Jurado a starting place in the team. The youngster's creativity may be needed with Spartak playing at home, and the desperate need for points, especially given that Aiden McGeady is still injured.

The rest of the line-up will most likely be similar to the side that played on Saturday, with Rafael Carioca retaining his place in the team as Romulo is out for the long term, and Dmitri Kombarov likely to drop back to left-back. Sergei Parshivlyuk and Soslan Gatagov are still missing with knee injuries.

However, Juan Insaurralde serves a one-game ban following his red card on Matchday 2, meaning that 19-year-old starlet Sergey Bryzgalov will most likely take his place.

The visitors have almost a fully fit squad to choose from. With Luisao not playing due to his continuing ban, Jardel will continue at the back with Ezequiel Garay. In midfield Nemanja Matic will supply the robustness as Aimar, Gaitan and Carlos Martins try to provide the ammunition for Oscar Cardozo to fire home.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Spartak Moscow lost their third successive league game when losing to Anzhi on Saturday - their worst run since November 2009.
  • Spartak's home record in the Champions League against teams from Portugal is W1 D2 L1.
  • So far the Spartachi are without a point in Group G after two 3-2 defeats: away against Barcelona and at home to Celtic, as Spartak conceded a 2-1 lead in both games.
  • Benfica have the unenvious record of being the team to have committed the most fouls so far in this season's Champions League: 43 offences.
  • The Eagles have scored 348 goals in total in the European Cup.

  • Key Benfica defender Luisao (pictured) is banned from all competitions until November 14 after attacking a referee in a pre-season friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Spartak Moscow 1-2 Benfica
    23.97 %
  • Spartak Moscow 1-1 Benfica
    13.36 %
  • Spartak Moscow 2-1 Benfica
    11.99 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Nov 7, 2012 Benfica 2 - Spartak Moscow 0
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Oct 23, 2012 Spartak Moscow 2 - Benfica 1
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Last Five Matches
Spartak Moscow
May 18, 2013Krasnodar 0 - Spartak Moscow 1RUS1
May 10, 2013Spartak Moscow 1 - Kryliya Sovetov 1RUS1
May 3, 2013FC Mordovia Saransk 2 - Spartak Moscow 1RUS1
Apr 28, 2013Spartak Moscow 2 - Anzhi Makhachkala 0RUS1
Apr 21, 2013CSKA Moscow 2 - Spartak Moscow 2RUS1
Benfica
May 19, 2013Benfica 3 - Moreirense FC 1POR1
May 15, 2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea Fc 2EL
May 11, 2013Porto 2 - Benfica 1POR1
May 6, 2013Benfica 1 - G D Estoril Praia 1POR1
May 2, 2013Benfica 3 - Fenerbahçe 1EL
Odds
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Returns: Draw $33.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Benfica $25.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Team News
Available Squads
-Artem RebrovGoalkeeper
19Nicolás ParejaDefender
17Marek SuchyDefender
16Evgeniy MakeevDefender
5Rafael CariocaMidfielder
18JuradoMidfielder
6Kim KällströmMidfielder
99Dmitriy KombarovMidfielder
7Diniyar BilyaletdinovMidfielder
27Zhano AnanidzeMidfielder
9AriStriker
81Andrey DykanGoalkeeper
-Sergey BryzgalovDefender
-Emin MakhmudovMidfielder
77Kirill KombarovDefender
40Artem DzubaStriker
26WellitonStriker
41Vladimir ObukhovStriker
1ArturGoalkeeper
14Maximiliano PereiraDefender
24Ezequiel GarayDefender
-L. MelgarejoStriker
33Jardel Nivaldo VieiraDefender
8Toto SalvioMidfielder
21Nemanja MatićMidfielder
35Enzo Nicolás PérezMidfielder
-Bruno CésarMidfielder
18LimaStriker
19RodrigoStriker
-Paulo LopesGoalkeeper
27Miguel VítorDefender
20Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián GaitánMidfielder
-André AlmeidaMidfielder
-André GomesMidfielder
7Ó. CardozoStriker
24Ola JohnStriker
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