Laudrup out to end Spartak's longest wait

Only the most diehard FC Spartak Moskva supporters will be expecting victory in Saturday's derby against PFC CSKA Moskva. It is seven years and 19 matches since the capital's most popular club defeated their rivals and few believe Michael Laudrup's team will buck the trend on Saturday.

Worst loss ever
The most painful defeat of all was the most recent, on 12 July, when Spartak were thrashed 5-1, their heaviest loss against their rivals. To rub salt in the wounds, that match turned out to be the last in the famous red shirt for fan favourites Yegor Titov and Maxym Kalynychenko. If there is a ray of hope for Spartak it comes in the form of new coach Laudrup, who took charge on 12 September. "I was only recently told about Spartak's long winless streak against CSKA," Laudrup told uefa.com. "I can't think of anything like that in any other league, but every bad run must end sooner or later. Why shouldn't it happen now?"

True stars
Even Laudrup concedes, however, that beating in-form CSKA is a tall order. "CSKA are in great shape and have true stars in Vágner Love and Yuri Zhirkov. We'll do everything it takes to neutralise these guys and CSKA's other players. We also need to win." Spartak are ten points behind CSKA in sixth and locked in a tight race for a UEFA Champions League place. With games against FC Lokomotiv Moskva and FC Zenit St. Petersburg still to come, Laudrup's side have plenty to play for.

Must win
Points are also at a premium for CSKA who trail runaway leaders FC Rubin Kazan by seven points with four games remaining, including a summit meeting between the top two on 16 November. After a slow start CSKA have hit their stride and have won nine of their last ten league matches and are undefeated in their last 13. Time, though, is running out in the race to catch Rubin – who would clinch the title on Sunday if CSKA lose and they beat FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast. "We need to win every game to finish top, but I expect a crowd of 60,000 to 70,000 so it's important to put on a good show as well," CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev said.

Stranzl and Maidana back
The Army Men come into the game with confidence soaring after victories against RC Deportivo La Coruña (3-0) in the UEFA Cup and FC Dinamo Moskva (3-1) in the league, and defender Chidi Odiah is the only absentee as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury. Spartak, are without midfielders Mozart and Vladislav Ryzhkov and Brazilian striker Welliton, but defender Martin Stranzl and midfielder Cristián Maidana are back in full training. In seven and a half years at CSKA, 32-year-old midfielder Elvir Rahimić has never lost to Spartak and is intent on keeping that run going. "Since I've been with CSKA I've forgotten what it's like to congratulate Spartak players on a win," the former FC Anzhi Makhachkala player said. "I hope I won't get a reminder."