Lokomotiv Unstoppable: Spartak Falls in Latest Thrilling Encounter

CSKA Moscow also had a strong performance in the fourth round of the Russian Championship, though they remain significantly behind “Lokomotiv” in the league standings. Meanwhile, “Zenit” experienced their inaugural loss of the season, falling to “Akhmat” in Grozny under the guidance of their new coach, Stanislav Cherchesov.

Who is the strongest? Who plays better? No. Who scores more? “Spartak” played assertively, pressing their opponents. After conceding a goal from Batrakov, they quickly equalized. However, when they conceded again early in the second half—this time to Vorobyov—”Spartak” lacked the energy to break through the hosts` defense via the flanks. Stankovic`s substitutions proved ineffective. “Lokomotiv”`s tactics were spot-on, and their reliance on Batrakov`s skill paid off. The “Red-Whites” (Spartak) equalized from a penalty, but in the very next attack, Aleksey (Batrakov) scored again. And in the closing moments, a precise low shot sealed the victory for “Lokomotiv” with a 4-2 final score.

Alexander Ivanov, a “Lokomotiv” expert and author of the “Nezhurnalist Ivanov” Telegram channel, shared his comments on the “Match Premier” TV channel:

Alexander Ivanov, “Nezhurnalist Ivanov” Telegram channel author:
“Stankovic reminds me of a coach who acts like a crow drawn to anything shiny. His starting lineup was like, `everyone who can, come out.` And now, with them losing, he`s sending out, `everyone forward, come on, everyone forward – the game will come.` I`d like to say that `Lokomotiv` has very strong qualities at the start of the season. First is their physical readiness. And second, Galaktionov`s team has no issues with self-sacrifice. Look at how they throw themselves into challenges, how they battle. The team plays at 100% of their capabilities every match.”

Batrakov`s hat-trick propelled him to the top of the league`s scoring charts with six goals. Earlier, CSKA dominated “Rubin” at home with a 5-1 victory, though the game itself wasn`t as one-sided as the score suggested. Nevertheless, it marked “CSKA”`s best performance under their new coach, Celestini. For “Rubin”`s manager Rakhimov, “CSKA” continues to be a formidable adversary, with his record against them standing at ten draws and 19 defeats in 29 matches.

The tour`s biggest surprise was “Zenit”`s 0-1 defeat in Grozny. Despite dominating possession (73% to 27%), “Akhmat” showcased exceptional dedication and a highly intelligent, pragmatic style of play. Bravo, Stanislav Cherchesov! This loss also served as a reminder that “Zenit” has conceded goals in every match this new season. “Zenit”`s coach, Sergei Semak, acknowledged the issue:

Sergei Semak, Zenit Coach:
“Indeed, we concede in every game. And last season, we had one of the best defenses, but we also aren`t scoring as much as we`d like this season to win. For now, it`s very difficult precisely with converting chances. We had so many chances against `Rostov` (a record xG for the round), and today our xG indicator is very high. And against CSKA, we scored only one goal out of ten scoring opportunities, while CSKA scored one out of three. And even against `Rubin,` how many chances did we have in the second half? Two or three very good opportunities to increase our lead. If we had converted at least at an average level, 20-30%, the result would have been different.”

Why did “Zenit” fail to convert any of their chances? Was it perhaps because “Akhmat” simply didn`t allow them to? “Baltika” could have climbed to second place, and they seemed stronger in their away match against “Krylia,” but ultimately lacked the finishing touch, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The full results of the fourth round of the Russian Football Championship will be finalized on Sunday evening. However, these outcomes will not affect the top position: “Lokomotiv” is guaranteed to remain in first place until at least August 24th.