Spartak Moscow — Rostov : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Spartak Moscow’s Coaching Uncertainty

Spartak Moscow continues to operate without Dejan Stankovic at the helm, and speculation regarding the Serb’s potential departure from the club is intensifying. This comes at a time when the Serbian national team head coach position has become vacant following the exit of the controversial Stojkovic, who had led the national side for four years. Dejan Stankovic is widely reported in the media as the leading candidate for this newly available role.

Dejan Stankovic’s Stance and Team Developments

Reports in the press also include an interview with Stankovic to Serbian media, where he stated it would be an honor to lead the national team and disclaimed any fault for Spartak’s recent setbacks. Apparently, the 2-3 derby loss to CSKA before the international break was not considered a failure. Amidst all this, the club’s management is strengthening its scouting department, recruiting Andrey Movsesyan from CSKA, who is regarded as one of Russia’s top talent scouts for young players. Meanwhile, the upcoming match against Rostov will offer a clearer picture of Spartak’s trajectory. Litvinov is a doubt for the Rostov game due to an injury that caused him to miss recent international fixtures.

Rostov’s Impressive Unbeaten Run

Rostov has extended their unbeaten streak in the championship to five consecutive matches following a 1-0 victory in Orenburg. This represents significant progress for Alba’s team, which had a difficult start to the season. However, their pressing style and overall active play hinted at growth potential, and the quality of their game didn’t always reflect their points tally. The Spanish coach has managed to rectify this in recent times.

Rostov’s Off-Pitch Changes and On-Pitch Form

Among the less favorable news from the Rostov camp is that Harutyunyan is indeed stepping down as club president. The main concern, however, is that this doesn’t impact the players themselves, who are currently in excellent form. They have already defeated Spartak in Moscow this season, and in fact, within the current calendar year, they’ve done so twice at the Lukoil Arena. The visitors boast a full squad of healthy players, all ready to challenge the league’s 6th-placed team (the Yellow-Blues themselves are currently 10th).