Spartak Moscow – Maribor

Spartak Moscow hosts Maribor in a match from Group E of the UEFA Champions League.

Spartak are one of the three teams in this group, who are still engaged in a fight for the 1/8-finals. Right now Spartak are third in the group with 5 points, but they are on just three points behind the leader Liverpool and on two points behind the 2nd team in the group Sevilla. A win against Maribor could move them among the first two teams in the group.

Spartak Moscow have a record of one win, two draws and one loss in the Champions League so far. Their only win in the group they recorded at home – 5-1 against Sevilla. In their other game in Moscow, Spartak made a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Now the club’s fans expect to see a second win against Maribor.

Maribor are the obvious underdog in this group. They have won just one point so far, thanks to their draw against Spartak in the first round of the group stage. Now the Slovenian team will try to take something from Spartak again, but it’s going to be really difficult in Moscow.

Spartak have all the reasons to be extremely motivated before this match. The Russians know very well that they are still in the game for the 1/8-finals, but they must beat Maribor at any cost to improve their chances. In the last round Spartak are travelling to Anfield to meet Liverpool, so it won’t be easy for them to end their campaign there. That’s why it’s so important to take the three points against Maribor.

As for Maribor, the Slovenian team is playing mainly for its own name now. They know that they are the weakest team in the group, but they will try to win a point or two in the remaining two rounds.