Spartak’s chances of earning medals are slim, but while Lokomotiv holds the cards, a podium finish is still possible. This motivation keeps the team on edge, preventing them from relaxing and focusing solely on the cup superfinal. That’s why all the best players are on the pitch, with no experiments from Juan Carlos Carcedo. Denisov replacing Jedson Fernandes on the right side of defense is purely a tactical adjustment. Whether with the Portuguese or the Russian in the starting lineup, the system works. The difference lies only in the nuances and basic characteristics of the players.
Rubin, who began working under Fran Artica with a loss to Makhachkala Dynamo but then went on a nine-match unbeaten streak, found themselves pinned back in their own box in the opening minutes. The Red-Whites applied immense pressure, including from set pieces, and scored quickly when Ugalde won an aerial duel and Vu smashed the ball into the near top corner. But it was naive to expect such a start to shock the Kazan side. Especially since Rubin has played well against top-half teams this spring. Beating Krasnodar, Lokomotiv, and Baltika away says a lot.
Spartak could have lost their lead almost as quickly as they gained it. After a cross from Kabutov (who had to urgently replace the injured Arroyo), Maksimenko was fortunate that Teslenko’s header wasn’t powerful enough, allowing the goalkeeper to catch the ball heading under the bar. However, overall, the game was under the Red-Whites’ control, with the only criticism being their finishing. Marquinhos, sent one-on-one by Ugalde, and Ugalde himself after a brilliant cross from Solari, were both obliged to score. But the Brazilian was stopped by Staver, who knocked the ball from his feet, and Ugalde headed straight at the keeper from a few meters out. Barco’s strike from the edge of the box also qualified as a clear goalscoring chance.
Perhaps the abundance of chances and the bright start to the second half — with Barco’s dangerous free kick and Zobnin’s cross to Solari, who attacked from the rebound — somewhat lulled Spartak to sleep. Meanwhile, Rubin woke up, and Daku created a great chance from a long pass. The most obvious decision for Gripshi was to pass to a completely free Hodja, but the Albanian ignored him and ended up with nothing, unsuccessfully trying to dribble past Vu. A few minutes later, Bezrukov hit the crossbar. Then Vu managed to stop Daku’s run. It wasn’t that the Red-Whites relaxed—they simply started making too many errors, even in simple passes. It was a heart-stopping period, but Ugalde played the role of valium: he perfectly accelerated to meet Marquinhos’ pass and set up Solari for an empty net.
Manfred has scored few goals this spring—he found the net in the cup match against Dynamo in March and scored against Pari NN on the first of May. He also provided an assist in the first game after the winter break in Sochi. But a round before the finish, he made the match with two assists. With the score at 2-0, the game calmed down. Rubin seemed to lose faith in taking points from the capital. Spartak, in turn, played according to the score, not completely easing off, but trying to make it a bigger win. Martins came close, redirecting a header from a set piece, but couldn’t beat Staver. Dmitriev also failed as he tried to chip the goalkeeper, who stopped the attempt with his head.
Eventually, Rubin pulled one back through Sive, who kept the ball in play in a difficult situation, and Yukich, who found the target. But it changed nothing. The Red-Whites’ chase for medals continues. The scenario at the finish is crystal clear: they need to take three points away against Makhachkala Dynamo (who are fighting for survival) and hope that CSKA, who ended a losing streak on Monday, wins the derby against Lokomotiv, who would finish above Spartak on level points due to head-to-head results.
Spartak 2:1 Rubin (First half: 1:0)
Football, Premier League, Round 29
Lukoil Arena