Courtesy of Felipe Caicedo’s continued sublime play since joining Lokomotiv Moscow, the Railwayman defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in Europa League play at Luzhniki Stadion.

Under freezing conditions the Muscovites were under pressure early but after repelling a series of advances successfully fell behind 1-0 at the twenty-fifth minute via a flourishing counter-attack on the right from Markel Susaeta. Driving down the right under heavy pursuit from Renat Yanbayev, the attacker cut into the area, navigated his way past Alberto Zapater vai a smooth display of control before sliding the ball to Iker Muniain on the left with the nineteen year-old scoring from eleven metres.

Done by one Felipe Caicedo took matters into his own highly capable hands at the sixty-first minute with a flourishing near fifty-metre charge up the centre of the pitch before being brought down by Jon Aurtenetxe, with match-day referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan having no other choice but to adjudge a penalty. In the ensuing effort Denis Glushakov rifled the leveller into the right side of the net as Lokomotiv announced its intent. Railwayman manager José Couceiro summoned Victor Obinna for Dmitri Torbinsky shortly thereafter and with nineteen minutes remaining in regulation time the hosts notched the winning margin. Coming via a quick thinking surge on the left, Renat Yanbayev sent a arcing cross that the Ecuadorian international took a controlling touch before lashing to ball into the net from the edge of the area. Lokomotiv goalkeeper Guilherme held back the Spanish side’s advances and with the final whistle Lokomotiv laid claim to the 2-1 victory.

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Following his often electrifying performances on the left flank since returning to Spartak Moscow, Dmitri Kombarov has deservedly been added to Dick Advocaat’s selection for Russia’s friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen on 29 February. Joining Dmitri Kombarov is his first called up to the national side is new found team-mate Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who will be making his forty-sixth appearance.

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In a perfect tune-up to the re-start of the domestic campaign, Spartak Moscow added to their hardware case with claim to the Copa del Sol tournament courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Danish side F.C. København. The result brings to an end to drought of trophies for the Red-Whites that dates back to 2003 and sets the stage for a brilliant future of Valeriy Karpin’s youthful line-up.

After getting past Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 on Sunday, København approached the evening with poise and intent to shutdown Spartak’s fluid assault. The opening stages proved tight with the first noteworthy effort coming via Pape Paté Diouf at the half-hour mark, only to see his volley from twelve metres drift off-course. However three minutes later Nicolás Pareja took matters into his own hands with a perfectly placed free-kick from twenty-three metres on the left that dipped over the wall and into the near bottom corner of the Kim Christensen’s net to give Spartak the lead they would not relinquish. Play continued to be tight with neither side threatening beyond the final third.

The re-start saw little change as Spartak gave little ground to the Dane’s with Andriy Dykan a spectator for large stretches of the affair. As the contest approached the hour mark the Red-Whites began to threaten, first with Ari’s menacing cross from the right narrowly being headed over the bar by Aleksandr Sheshukov with the Brazilian later failing to convert after being played in alone on the ‘keeper. Four minutes past the hour, Mr. Karpin added Rafael Carioca for Aleksandr Zotov as Spartak went about the professional task of sealing the result. With victory in sight for Spartak, København narrowly missed levelling at the death of regulation time but Andriy Dykan made a spellbinding reflex stop of Ragnar Sigurðsson’s close-range effort. Following nearly five minutes of added-time the final whistle sounded and travelling faithful erupted in voice as Spartak claimed the hardware with a 1-0 victory.

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In an impressive display, Spartak opened its effort in the Copa del Sol tournament with a 4-2 (2-2) penalty shoot victory over Swedish side IFK Göteborg.

Set in the beautiful Spanish coastal retreat of Benidorm, Valeriy Karpin’s men showed promise from the opening whistle with Aiden McGeady a constant menace on the left. Barely two minutes into the contest the Republic of Ireland narrowly missed connecting with Welliton with a teasing cross that went for naught. While general play was holstered firmly box to box thereafter, the Red-Whites were clearly the more likely to break the deadlock until being shocked six minutes past the half-hour. Coming via a deft side foot flick on from a corner, Tobias Hysén delivered a booming volley past Andriy Dykan for the one goal advantage. Spartak immediately went on the attack with Aiden McGeady applying the petrol with a quick assault on the left. With the ball moving from Welliton at the top of the box to Artem Dzyuba on the right, the twenty-three year-old striker saw his low effort intended for the bottom left corner stopped before the Brazilian sniper sent the rebound into the net. The Red-Whites continued to pressure to the lead but had to be satisfied with a 1-1 deadlock at the break.

At the re-start play continued with neither side able to make headway and a minute shy of the hour Mr. Karpin summoned Emmanuel Emenike for Welliton. Following a close miss from in an Göteborg advance, Philip Haglund powerfully headed a corner from the right into the net to restore the Swedish club’s advantage. Responding to the challenge once again, Spartak’s cagey and high work rate created a turnover as Stefan Selaković’s poorly weight pass intended for the ‘keeper was latched onto be Emmanuel Emenike and after a deft manoeuvre he deposited the leveller into the net. In the final quarter-hour Jano Ananidze entered for Demy de Zeeuw along with Aleksandr Zotov for Artem Dzyuba shortly thereafter but after both sides failed to connect on noteworthy chances the match went to penalty shoot-out.

Stepping up to the spot first Sergei Parshivlyuk saw his effort stopped before Andriy Dykan rose to the occasion to deny Tobias Hysén. In quick succession, Aiden McGeady and Jano Ananidze both notched their efforts, along with their counterparts before Marcos Rojo dispatched the ball to the top right corner of the net to provide Spartak the advantage. Andriy Dykan then managed to heroically paw away Hjörtur Logi Valgarðsson’s effort and with victory in sight Ari strode the spot and lashed the ball into the left corner.

Spartak Moscow returns to play in the Copa del Sol tournament on 1 February to face Norwegian side Rosenborg BK.

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With Spartak Moscow ready to begin play in the Copa del Sol in advance of re-start of the extended Russian football season, the club has scored an enormous coup with the addition of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov from Everton.

No stranger to Red-Whites faithful, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov rose to fame at Lokomotiv displaying mercurial pace on the attack and a passion for the goal. After five superb years for the Railwayman, earning the captains armband in 2007, he made the shift to English Premier League side Everton for a free reportedly in the range of £8.9m.

Earning forty-five caps for Russia as a fixture in the line-up, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will join Spartak following his medical and finalising of terms and signing of the contract.

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Via Evgeni Makeev’s stunning late acrobatic leveller, Spartak Moscow played host Kuban Krasnodar to a 1-1 draw, honours even, in match day thirty-two of the Sogaz Championship of Russia. With the result the Muscovites move to fourth in the table, a point of Dynamo before next week’s crucial test against Rubin Kazan.

Coming off last weeks victory over Lokomotiv and boasting only a single goal surrendered in the four most recent contests, the Red-Whites journeyed south with manager Valeriy Karpin without the services of Aleksandr Sheshukov and Aiden McGeady. From this most recent line-up, the Spartak tactician made three changes with Rodri, Rafael Carioca and Kirill Kombarov entering for Marek Suchý, Aleksandr Zotov and the Republic of Ireland international. Opening play was tight with neither side able to break the deadlock until the eight minutes shy of the break when a loose ball on the midfield was flicked overhead by a hopeful Marco Né. Bounding between Rodri and an on-rushing Sergei Parshivlyuk on the left, Lacina Traoré latched onto the ball at the edge of the area before snapped a low effort past Spartak ‘keeper Andriy Dykan to the low opposite corner of the net.

Down by one, Mr. Karpin called upon Jano Ananidze, his first league appearance since 11 September, for Kirill Kombarov at the re-start but still chances were meagre for Spartak. Early on, Vladislav Kulik pushed on the left from Evgeni Makeev before launching a long range effort that Andriy Dykan stretched out fully to push to safety. Vladislav Kulik continued to be a menace and narrowly missed doubling the margin at the fiftieth minute when he nodded Roman Bugayev’s corner from the right but in a miraculous effort, Dmitri Kombarov cleared the ball off the line with a header of his own to keep Spartak within one. With twenty-five minutes remaining in regulation time Sergei Bryzgalov trotted on for Nicolás Pareja as the Red-Whites and it was not long until nineteen year old etched his name on the contest. Coming nine minutes later Kuban launched a quick counter down the left with the ball played forward Gigi Bucur. With only Andriy Dykan to be the deadly Pol Timişoara attacker bore down on the Spartak ‘keeper but showing pace and intent Sergei Bryzgalov raced forward with a sliding challenge that squashed the effort. In his final tactical decision the Spartak manager summoned Welliton in for Artem Dzyuba as the all-out hunt for point continued. After surviving another counter attack the Red-Whites were rewarded with the leveller at the eighty-sixth minute as Dmitri Kombarov’s free-kick from the right whipped into the box and after a attempted clearance set the ball high, with a further bounce off Rodri, Evgeni Makeev delivered the leveller from close-range into the net via a stunning overhead acrobatic strike. Now level, Spartak went in the hunt for the leveller but following a speculative effort from Dmitri Kombarov flirted with the bar, the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even

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In a flourishing display, Spartak overwhelmed Lokomotiv 2-0 in the Moscow derby at Luzhniki Stadion of match-day thirty-one of the Sogaz Championship of Russia. With the result, the Red-Whites gain important points on both CSKA and Zenit and are now only six points removed from the top of the table.

Returning from the international break, Spartak manager Valeriy Karpin was without Rafael Carioca due to suspension and ushered twenty-one year old Aleksandr Zotov into the starting berth. A cagey start marked the opening of the always spirited Moscow derby saw opportunities come in a flourish with Artem Dzyuba launching a quick counter that
Emmanuel Emenike saw fight off the Lokomotiv defenders before his low effort from the edge of the area denied by the ‘keeper. Later Aiden McGeady showed his attacking vision with a deft cross from the left side of the area intended for Emmanuel Emenike that was blocked before Lokomotiv managed their own riposte. Coming via Alberto Zapater’s corner on the right, Manuel da Costa’s header appeared destined for the net before goalkeeper Andriy Dykan stretched out fully to maintain the deadlock. Following the brief advance, Spartak dictated the run of play with pace and guile and broke the deadlock four minutes shy of the half-hour with Dmitri Kombarov once again playing the role of architect. In a swift counter, the intensely talented twenty-four year-old midfielder deftly chipped the ball over the Lokomotiv defenders for Emmanuel Emenike, with the striker then poking his seventh goal since joining Spartak into the net. With the faithful singing out his name, the day was not over for the striker but first it would be up to Andriy Dykan to thwart two noteworthy Lokomotiv advances. Coming at the forty-first minute Sergei Parshivlyuk made a brilliant run from the right into the area before shuttling the ball to Emmanuel Emenike, who after showing power in holding off Manuel da Costa’s turned to fire a beaming effort into the top right corner of the net. Up by two, Spartak was in complete control of the proceedings as the match went to the break.

Nine minutes after the re-start, Mr. Karpin added Kirill Kombarov for Aiden McGeady as Spartak went out the task of locking down the result. As the half proceeded, Artem Dzyuba pushed the ball forward to Kirill Kombarov on the right with his low cross to the back post a step beyond an on-rushing Emmanuel Emenike. Later, Artem Dzyuba was set-up man again this time as he shifted the ball to Emmanuel Emenike on the right but this time Lokomotiv ‘keeper Guilherme managed to stop the ball with his outstretched leg. The Railwayman goalkeeper was doing yeoman duty as Spartak continued its assault as he parried Ari’s close range header just before the ball cross the line but play was decidedly one way. With the contest effectively fait accompli, the Spartak tactician summoned Dmitri Kayumov for Artem Dzyuba at the seventy-ninth minute the teen’s third appearance of the campaign, with Aleksandr Sheshukov for Dmitri Kombarov in the shortly thereafter. Time ticked down and with the final whistle Spartak claimed an impressive 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv in the Moscow derby.

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Krasnodar continued to solidify its place in the top flight as they defeated Spartak Nalchik 3-2 in the match day thirty-one of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

With the lead now split into top and bottom groups of eight, the relegation fight is expected to be heated though Krasnodar is well ahead of the pack and in clear control of their destiny. Entering the day eighteen points above bottom dweller Tom Tomsk, Slavoljub Muslin’s side is playing well beyond expectation after they were gifted promotion following the financial meltdown of Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast.

Quick out of the gate, Krasnodar took the 1-0 lead at the eighth minute as Armenian international Yura Movsisyan (Յուրա Մովսիսյան) brought the home supporters to their feet to chant his name as he added his ninth goal of the campaign when he latched onto a long ball through the right channel and delivered a beaming low volley into the net from ten metres. Ten minutes later the margin was doubled as Yura Movsisyan deftly played Joãozinho in on the left channel, with the Brazilian laying the ball back from the by-line to Yevgeni Shipitsin (Евгений Шипицин) to score from the edge of the area with a booming volley. Nalchik, fighting for survival fought back amiably and four minutes shy of the break Miodrag Džudović nodded Aleksandr Shchanitsin (Александр Щаницин) cross from the right flank.

Four minutes prior to the hour Arsen Goshokov (Арсен Гошоков) notched the equalizer as he accepted the ball from Mikhail Bagayev on the left and from the edge of the area fought off Aleksandr Amisulashvili before turning to fire to the near low post. However Krasnodar was not about to let the three points escape and with eleven minutes remaining Yura Movsisyan led a quick assault on the left before laying the ball back and seeing a effort from beyond the area spill out of the ‘keepers mitts to which Márcio Abreu ploughed the rebound in for the winning margin. In the final stages Miodrag Džudović was sent off with his second yellow-card but it meant little in the final outcome as Krasnodar comfortably claimed the 3-2

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In the opening contest of Saturday in match-day thirty-one of the Sogaz Championship of Russia, Amkar Perm stated its relegation fight intentions with a 2-1 come from behind victory over host Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

With the league now split, the battle to avoid relegation is expected to be a fervent fight as six of the eight clubs in the bottom half of the table are separated by a scant eight points. Quick out of the gate, Dmitri Cheryshev’s Volga grabbed the one goal advantage at the seventh minute as veteran Aleksandr Belozyorov (Александр Белозёров) as turned in Ruslan Adzhindzhal (Руслан Аджинджал) cross from the left by-line.

Chanced proved sparse in the cold conditions but seven minutes after the break, Volga was forced to play at a man disadvantage after Gia Grigalava was sent off with his second yellow-card. On the hour the Red-Blacks levelled as Sergei Volkov (Сергей Волков), from the top of the area, received Vitali Grishin’s (Виталий Гришин) provision from the right by-line and after creating space to his left fired a low effort to the bottom corner of the net. In a dreadful defending blunder, Volga surrendered the winning margin less than a minute later as via a swift counter as Zahari Sirakov cross from the left skipped through the box where Nikita Burmistrov (Никита Бурмистров) volleyed it into the net. In the final stages, Volga went down to nine men as Andrei Buivolov (Андрей Буйволов) was sent off along with being adjudged a penalty for obstructing Radomir Đalović. The ensuing effort was Volga ‘keeper Mikhail Kerzhakov (Михаил Кержаков) stretch out fully for a brilliant stop but the hosts rarely threatened in remaining time and with final whistle Amkar Perm claimed the 2-1 victory.

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Friday of match-day thirty-one of the Sogaz Championship of Russia, Rubin Kazan’s returned from the capital with the full three points courtesy of a 2-1 defeat of CSKA Moscow at Luzhniki Stadion.

Rubin took the lead a minute past the quarter-hour as Alan Kasaev (Алан Касаев) raced on the end of Bibras Natkho’s long through ball on the left channel, cut in smartly Pavel Mamayev (Павел Мамаев) before scoring from eleven metres. After a Keisuke Honda free-kick drifted a smidgen wide of the woodwork, CSKA levelled nine minutes shy of the break via Seydou Doumbia’s effort from the spot. Following match-day referee Vladislav Bezborodov’s adjudging Cristian Ansaldi for bringing Pavel Mamayev in the area the Côte d’Ivoire striker pounded his twenty-eight marker of the campaign into the back of the net.

CSKA looked to be the better of the two sides and were gifted a golden chance to take the lead when the spot was pointed to after Vitali Kaleshin, in a highly controversial decision, was adjudged from bringing down Keisuke Honda. However Seydou Doumbia scoring prowess departed him in the ensuing effort as he sent the ball soaring harmlessly over the bar. Disaster struck for CSKA at the sixty-first minute as Aleksandr Ryazantsev’s (Александр Рязанцев) effort from distance took a low skip past shocked ‘keeper Vladimir Gabulov (Владимир Габулов) to give Rubin the lead they would not relinquish. With eighteen minutes remaining, CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky added Sekou Oliseh as an added attacker but the Army-Men were unable to find a way through as Rubin Kazan laid claim to the 2-1 victory.

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