Aleksandr Tashaev (mid) Rotor), Ayaz Guliev (mid), Arsenal Tula)
Spartak Moscow had an exciting, turbulent and eventually successful season last year as they just about held out for the second place and gained a spot in the Champions League qualifiers.
However, the main that inspired that success in German coach Domenico Tedesco is not around anymore as his constant power struggle with the board saw him depart. Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria is the new man at the helm and it will be certainly curious to see how he gets on at a new environment, with his biggest achievement to date being the titles won with Benfica in 2016 and 2017.
The main aim for Spartak will be to retain the core of the squad that showed real promise last season, with the likes of Jordan Larsson, Alex Ural and Quincy Promes the ones being linked with moves but staying put so far.
There have been no new incomings so far but Spartak certainly need a few players to add depth to the squad along with their promising young players, like Pavel Maslov, Nail Umyarov and Dmitri Martkitesov, if they are to sustain a good challenge on the European front.
The squad looks pretty good on paper but with a new manager and still lots of uncertainty about the squad, it is hard to make a definite prediction about which way Spartak's season is going to go.
Target
Will look challenge for the title but the squad does not look ready at the moment.
Season Review
2020/2021
№2:
Spartak Moscow
Spartak were very quiet last summer and coach Tedesco opted to trust mainly players already in the squad in what was his last season in charge as the German announced from as early as November that he won’t be extending his stay in Russia past this season.
The start to the campaign was great (W8 D3 L1) and up until December Spartak were the best away team in the league. Ponce and Larsson formed great partnership in attack and both scored many goals in 2020. Meanwhile, after joining on loan for round 11, Moses immediately became key figure on the right flank.
Spartak probably lost their realistic title chances on each side of the winter break when they suffered 3 consecutive defeats against direct rivals – Sochi, Zenit and Rubin.
However, smart strengthening in the winter months saw ex-Spartak super star Promes added to the ranks and also, after half a season plagued by injuries, Sobolev recovered during long winter break and he was the main partner for Larsson in 2021.
Still the qualification for Europe was hanging on the balance and when back-to-back defeats were suffered in rounds 25 and 26 Spartak dropped out of the top 4. However, 10 points from their last 4 games proved enough not only for place in Europe, but also for Champions League spot.
Yet to find new manager and only when such is appointed in will be clearer which direction the transfer activity in the summer will move. In any case Spartak would find it very hard to keep their Player of the Season Larsson with Dortmund already placing offer for his services.