In another chapter of the storied Moscow derby, CSKA defeated Spartak 2-1 at Luzhniki Stadion to bring the Red-Whites seven match unbeaten run to an end. With the result, Spartak sits level in points with Dynamo at the third spot, whilst CSKA are second in the table.

With three consecutive draws, two since the re-start, the Red-Whites knew victory against their rivals is needed if they were to catch Zenit in the race for the championship. Spartak manager Valeriy Karpin made four changes to his most recent starting eleven with Nicolás Pareja, Demy de Zeeuw, Artem Dzyuba and Ari entering for Rodri, Aiden McGeady, Dmitri Kombarov and Welliton. To the surprise of no-one tension was thick at the start of the storied classic with both sides maintaining the stingiest of defending stances and Spartak showing extreme discipline in the midfield. Chances proved to be very rare until CSKA broke the deadlock eight minutes shy of the half as swift counter saw the ball played to Seydou Doumbia just outside the area. With Zoran Tošić ghosting through the right channel, the Côte d’Ivoire dissected Sergei Parshivlyuk and Marek Suchý with a well weighted through ball that the twenty-four year old playmaker rattled off the far post and into the net. While Spartak hunted for a quick response CSKA put those efforts on ice and without further incident Leonid Slutsky’s side took the one goal advantage to the break.

The re-start saw Spartak come out with vigour and at the fifty-first minute Artem Dzyuba ended his scoring drought with a brilliant display and his eighth goal of the campaign. From just outside the area the twenty-three year old striker latched onto a razor fast provision, took a control touch off his right boot to knee before firing a booming effort to the top left corner of the net. Spartak looked to be in prime position to the take the lead when Ari was brought down by Pontus Wernbloom in what appeared to be inside the area but instead the awarding a penalty a free-kick was provided. Mr. Karpin added Aiden McGeady for Ari and after the set-piece came up for naught CSKA restored its lead a minute past the hour. Via a quick counter Alan Dzagoev hung up well outside the Spartak box before playing the ball out to Ahmed Musa on the right flank with the young Nigerian international then delivering a slide rule provision that Seydou Doumbia turned in from close range. In need of the equaliser, the Red-White tactician quickly added Dmitri Kombarov for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov with Welliton for Demy de Zeeuw shortly thereafter. Andriy Dykan maintained the deficit for the Red-Whites with stunning denials of Tomáš Necid, Sekou Oliseh and Seydou Doumbia but chances to level until late when Aiden McGeady steered his effort from the right wide of the far post. Following four minutes of added-time the final whistle sounded with Spartak on the wrong end of the 2-1 result.

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Lokomotiv Moscow continued its hunt for a berth on the European stage with a 1-0 victory over Anzhi Makhachkala in match day thirty-five of the Sogaz Championship of Russia. With the result Lokomotiv moves to a provisional third spot in the table, ten points shy of leader Zenit, ahead of Monday’s Moscow Derby clash between Spartak and CSKA.

With Railwayman manager José Couceiro deploying the attacking trident of Roman Pavlyuchenko flanked by Felipe Caicedo and Dmitri Torbinski on the right and left side respectively, the Cherkizovskaya faithful urged their side onward but chances were non-existent in the opening forty-five minutes.

At the re-start the Lokomotiv tactician summoned Alberto Zapater for Dmitri Tarasov yet the complexion did not change as both goalkeepers were relegated to spectators. However with seventeen minutes remaining in regulation time the Railwayman notched the contests lone goal with Felipe Caicedo not to surprisingly the architect. Accepting the ball from Magomed Ozdoyev mid-field, the Ecuadorian international surged down the right channel before sending a low provision to Denis Glushakov, with help by a clever dummy from Roman Shishkin, who then finished to perfection from twelve metres. Anzhi offered little to suggest a draw was forthcoming and after four minutes of uneventful added-time the match concluded 1-0 in favour of Lokomotiv Moscow.

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In his first appearance for Dan Petrescu’s Kuban Krasnodar Armenian international Marcos Pizzelli (Մարկոս Պիզզելլի) strike before the break was enough to lead his side past Rubin Kazan 1-0 in match-day thirty-five of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

In their trip south the normally defensively solid Rubin Kazan found themselves under attack early with Lacina Traoré, Gigi Bucur and Marcos Pizzelli a constant thorn in their plans. Rubin Kazan goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov did well to dispel the hosts advances until the forty-third minute when a cross from the left rattled loose in the area before Marcos Pizzelli rifled it into the net from twelve metres.

Rubin’s effort to find the equaliser met the staunch defending wall of the Kuban Krasnodar. In the final half-hour Rubin manager Alan Kasaev summoned former Newcastle man Oba Martins, Vladimir Dyadyun and Alan Kasaev but rarely did his side suggest venom going forward. Though was Kuban Krasnodar was unable to expand on their lead with a number of solid chances with the final whistle they laid claim to the full three points via a 1-0 victory.

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In a statement of intent, Zenit Saint Petersburg stormed past Dynamo Moscow 5-1 at Arena Khimki in the opening contest of week thirty-five of the Sogaz Championship of Russia. With the result the defending champions stand atop the table, nine points clear of CSKA, whist Dynamo sits level in points with Spartak at the third spot.

Coming off two straight draws following the re-start from the winter break, Luciano Spalletti’s men travelled south with firm intent to find their winning ways. Wasting little time Zenit cut the Dynamo defending line to ribbons early and the contest was virtually a foregone conclusion shy of the half-hour. At the thirteenth minute Dynamo goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky (Ռոման Բերեզովսկի) was left stranded by dreadful defending as Andrei Arshavin’s corner from the left was volleyed at the back post by defender Vladimir Granat straight to Domenico Criscito with the former Genoa man heading the ball into the net. The travelling Zenit fans extended their celebration a mere thirty seconds later as Alexander Kerzhakov latched onto ball midfield before moving forward and provided a open target with no challenge in sight, sent a dipping effort from thirty metres into the net past the Armenian international goalkeeper to double the visitors advantage. The White-Blues defending continued to as an abomination as via a counter Andrei Arshavin dissected the statuesque back line to play through Sergei Semak with the veteran finishing to the opposite corner with perfection.

The re-start saw Dynamo tactician Sergei Silkin call upon Christian Noboa for Aleksandr Kokorin but much of the run of play was merely a cat and mouse affair with Zenit keeping the hosts at bay with three points clearly in sight. With eighteen minutes remaining in regulation time Kevin Kurányi pulled Dynamo to within in two with a superb header via Balázs Dzsudzsák’s free-kick from the left flank, however the goal only stoked Zenit’s ire. Adding Zvjezdan Misimović for Leandro Fernández as an extra attacker, Dynamo was filleted by the Zenit attack as Alexander Kerzhakov got past Marko Lomić and Balázs Dzsudzsák to powerfully head a cross from the left flank into the net. Only four minutes Szabolcs Huszti displayed his booming power from set-pieces with a powerful effort that rocketed through the smallest crack in the wall to the left corner of the net to add the exclamation mark in Zenit’s 5-1 demolition of Dynamo Moscow.

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In the final contest of week thirty-four of the Sogaz Championship of Russia, Spartak Moscow was held to a scoreless draw by host Anzhi Makhachkala. With the result the Red-Whites pull level with Dinamo at the third spot and only two points shy of the CSKA whom they face next week in another chapter of the great Moscow derby.

From last weeks clash against Rubin Kazan, Spartak manager Valeriy Karpin made two changes to his starting fold with Aiden McGeady and Rafael Carioca entering for Kirill Kombarov and Artem Dzjuba. Anzhi, with its eye upon a spot on the European stage and with newly appointed manager Guus Hiddink at the helm started quickly with a noteworthy scoring chance in the opening thirty seconds that saw Yuriy Zhirkov slide the ball to Mbark Boussoufa on the right side of the before the latter’s chipped effort drifted wide. Shortly thereafter Welliton created the Red-Whites first opportunity as he dispossessed Rasim Tagirbekov of the ball deep in the Anzhi area to the right. Surging towards the goal, Emmanuel Emenike ghosted towards the far post where he chased down Welliton’s provision but his low effort was stopped by host goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov. After the early advances play was tight an excluding a solid chance from Aiden McGeady near the right by-line came up for naught neither side could muster a scoring threat and the contest went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start Mr. Karpin ushered Ari in for Aiden McGeady but the complexion of the match was decidedly box to box. Chances were primarily speculative in nature with Marek Suchý testing the ‘keeper from difference before Sergei Parshivlyuk slipped away from his man at the right by-line but his cross was cleared to safety before any damage could be done. The final quarter-hour saw the hosts press for the much needed goal with Yuriy Zhirkov surging down the left channel before sliding the ball to Makhach Gadzhiyev at the back post but the final touch soared over the bar. In the second minute of added-time Anzhi was presented with fine opportunity with Jan Holenda surging into the area but rather than take his effort he went to the ground, appropriately receiving a yellow-card from referee Sergei Lapochkin as well as the ire of Mr. Hiddink who called it a “dive” in his post match press conference. Without further incident the match concluded as a nil draw and Spartak will now turn its attention to the upcoming derby.

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Spartak Moscow returned to play after the long winter-break of the Sogaz Championship of Russia with a 1-1 draw, honours even, to host Rubin Kazan. With the result the Red-Whites sits level with Dinamo at the third spot, eight points shy of leader Zenit Saint Petersburg, ahead of next weeks encounter with Anzhi Makhachkala.

Juggling his line-up, Spartak manager Valeriy Karpin dispatched Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Emmanuel Emenike on the left and right flanks to support Artem Dzyuba and Welliton up top but as play got underway it was clear that in minus five degree temperatures and despite the efforts from local groundskeepers the pitch was deeply problematic. With the backdrop of the extraordinary support from Spartak’s loyal fans, defenders enjoyed a decided advantage as they were quite aware attacking advances were relegated to primarily long ball efforts or congested efforts on the flank. Following an early delay due to smoke clearing from the pitch, the contest pressed on and at the seventh minute Gökdeniz Karadeniz was gifted a high probability chance on the left side of the area but found Spartak ‘keeper Andriy Dykan up to the task. The hosts continued to post the greater of attacking advances until the Red-Whites narrowly missed taking the lead as Welliton was unable to connect on Dmitri Kombarov’s corner from the right and as the ball bounded to the back-post Marek Suchý failed to squeeze it into the net. Later Welliton and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov linked a fine combination on the left but Rubin’s defending unit pushed the ball to safety before damage could be done. Spartak’s final attacking effort shy of the break saw a delicate chip for Artem Dzyuba in the area but after the young striker went down in a tangle with a defender match day referee Mikhail Vilkov waived off claims for a penalty.

The re-start saw little change in tempo and looking very much like neither side would find a way through the conditions. However at the fifty-eighth minute Rubin grabbed the one goal advantage as Roman Sharonov nodded a high looping corner from the right into the net. Down by one, Spartak was in dire need of the equaliser but with advances becoming more rare as the night wore on it would need to be something special. With the Red-Whites drawing forward, opportunities presented the hosts such as Oba Martin’s racing onto a long-ball but the former Newcastle man was unable to muster a shot on target. Finally with ten minutes in regulation time remaining that “something special” was served up on a platter as Aiden McGeady deftly created space on the left side of the area before lofting a chip to the back-post that Emmanuel Emenike dutifully headed into the net. The final ten minutes played out without incident, with the match concluding as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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The Sogaz Championship of Russia returned to play after the long winter break with an exhilarating clash between Zenit Saint Petersburg and CSKA Moscow that ended as a 2-2 draw, honours even, at Luzhniki Stadion. With the result, Zenit maintains its six point advantage at the top of the table over the Army-Men but provides Spartak an opportunity to close the gap ahead of Monday’s contest against Rubin Kazan.

With CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky forced into giving sixteen year-old goalkeeper Sergei Revyakin his debut due to injury the day started in horrific fashion as less than thirty seconds after the opening whistle Tomáš Hubočan’s long ball down the right channel found Aleksandr Kerzhakov who outraced Sergei Ignashevich before sending a low effort to the opposite side of the net for the 1-0 lead. Zenit was running roughshod over the Muscovites and narrowly missed doubling the margin at the sixth minute as Roman Shirokov nodded Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s cross from the right by-line off the back post with his follow-up effort then blocked on the line by Sergei Ignashevich. Slowly CSKA stirred awake at the seventeenth minute Alan Dzagoev levelled as his header of Keisuke Honda’s cross from the left was first denied by Vyacheslav Malafeev but he quickly shuttles the rebound into the net.

Continuing at a break-neck pace Zenit restored its advantage with a stunning display of pedigree as Tomáš Hubočan’s cross from the left was met by Aleksandr Kerzhakov with a looping volley from the edge of the area to the top corner of Sergei Revyakin’s net. With Danko Lazović now in for Andrey Arshavin, with the latter having a modest re-start since returning to Saint Petersburg, Zenit continued to probe but with twenty-two minutes remaining in regulation time Nigerian international Ahmed Musa put his name on the marquee with his debut for CSKA. A recent addition from VVV of the Eredivisie, the nineteen year-old virtuoso is a threat to score at every touch and true to form on quick assault accepted the ball from Keisuke Honda and from the right side of the area sent a piercing effort through the narrowest of spaces to the near bottom corner of the net. Pace continued at a frantic through the balance of time but after a brilliant clearance from Vasili Berezutski to thwart a sure goal by Zenit the match concluded as a 2-2 draw, honours even.

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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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