Spartak Moscow – Krasnodar 2:0
Spartak Moscow usurped Krasnodar as the Russian Premier League’s top dogs with a fine 2-0 win at home.
Krasnodar, who easily defeated Albanian side Partizani Tirana in the Europa League on Thursday, were no match for their host’s energetic attack.
Star striker Ze Luis scored the two goals, getting on the scoresheet for the first time this season.
Spartak boss Massimo Carrera was pleased with what he saw. “We demonstrated a good game,” he said. “We didn’t look bad both physically and technically. We were playing against a strong team which had recorded a long series of victories. It was not easy for us when the opposition played to their standard. They conceded and then tried to attack in order to change the course of the game. I was pleased that our team fought until the end.”
When asked why he moved away from Spartak’s usual approach of three centre-backs, Carrera answered: “When we played 3-5-2 it was difficult for several of the players to express themselves on the pitch. For example, Promes is not a striker; it was not easy for him to play with Ze Luis. Popov is not a forward, it was also difficult for him. Therefore, we made changes to our game. However, if the situation calls for it, we can return at any moment to the set-up with three centre-backs.”
Krasnodar manager Oleg Kononov felt that his team’s performance was better in the second half. He said: “Until the break we were timid and sluggish; because of this Spartak had the advantage. In the second half we played completely differently. We had chances but, unfortunately, we did not take them and conceded the second goal. I think that the guys who came on as substitutes did a bit poorly.
“Had Ari scored, there would have been a lot of pressure on Spartak’s goal. Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the game, it was entertaining.”
Zenit St Petersburg – CSKA Moscow 1:1
Zenit’s sluggish start to the season continued as they shared the points with champions CSKA Moscow in St Petersburg.
Midfielder Roman Eremenko opened the scoring in the 24th minute but Yuri Zhirkov’s header levelled the game on the stroke of half time.
Chances went both ways and it was Eremenko who had the best of them, firing straight at Lodygin from 10 yards.
Zenit goalscorer Zhirkov said that it is “always great to score against CSKA”. His manager, Mircea Lucescu, shared his thoughts. “I think the score is consistent with what was on the field. We had the advantage in the first half and had the chance to score two or three goals,” he said. “In the second half, CSKA had a good opportunity to counterattack, which occurred due to our own mistakes. In the second half we didn’t have enough patience to open up our opponent’s defence, unlike the first half.
“We were make mistakes in possession and tried to open their defence through the middle and that didn’t work, we lost the ball, they got it and counter-attacked. Overall, we controlled the game in both halves.”
He continued: “I said and I repeat: it takes time to improve our new game. Also, do not forget that two players were absent today, those who scored the most goals last season, Hulk and Dzyuba. Artem (Dzyuba) today appeared at the end, but he needs time.”
Illustrating the problems he faces with the foreign player limit, Lucescu said: “I meticulously need to think about whom to play. Everyone will play, perhaps in the next match Djordjevic will start and the same for Mak. Unfortunately to change an attacking player, I have to make a double substitution and sub someone from defence and then think about the attacker. It is not an easy decision to make. For example, we had to move Zhirkov into defence.”
Leonid Slutsky, manager of CSKA, felt that his side could have won. “I have very mixed feelings,” he said. “On one hand, a draw in St Petersburg is, strategically, not the worst outcome. From the other, considering how the second half played out, there is a feeling of slight disappointment at the final result.”
CSKA have yet to fill the Ahmed Musa-shaped void in attack and Slutsky felt that striker Lacina Traore is still finding his feet. He said: “He is currently not fully integrated in the tactical plan. Today you saw moments where there was not enough understanding. Dzagoev was playing passes into areas where he was not running. He has already played five matches and it would be possible to understand the demands of the team and communicate with team mates better. We have what we have and will work further.”
Rubin Kazan – Anzhi Makhachkala 1:2
Rubin manager Javi Garcia said: “The game went unsuccessfully, it was an unfortunate result. We did not start badly, scored a goal and, had we been more accurate, our advantage would have been bigger. But the opposition equalised, we conceded an unnecessary goal. In the second half there was a series of unfortunate occurrences. The opposition scored after our mistake and we failed to score a penalty. The combination of these unsuccessful moments made the game difficult.”
Anzhi boss Pavel Vrba commented: “Today Rubin had more possession but we tried for the whole game, we fought for every ball. We were playing against a very strong opponent. Today’s victory is very important for us. We are at the start of the journey and every victory like this will be a stimulus for further work.”
Ufa – Terek Grozny 1:3
Ufa manager Victor Goncharenko reacted to defeat, “We don’t currently have proper understanding, concerning both defence and attack,” he said. “We didn’t have the understanding because young players were playing and the striker has only arrived. We need some time to get the balance between the lines.”
Terek defender Sergei Bryzgalov, who came on as a late substitute, reflected: “The match with Ufa was difficult and to enter into the game was hard. There was not much time to get comfortable on the pitch. I am very happy that the team won and collected the three points. Before the game, there was a difficult psychology; before the game we had had two difficult games. But well done to the guys, they endured and scored.”
Rostov – Tom Tomsk 3:0
Rostov manager Dmitiri Kirichenko was pleased by his team’s start. He said: “We started the game well, attacking and the chances came. It was very important that we scored a goal quickly and that happened. Ahead of the game with Ajax, the two goals in the first half allowed us to take it easy a bit and preserve our energy.”
Tomsk head coach Valeriy Petrakov said: “The assessment is that the game was unsatisfactory, like in school. In principal, to play like that with Rostov is like suicide. We made a lot of mistakes. In order to play good football, you need organisation and discipline.”
Amkar Perm – Ural 1:0
Amkar manager Gadzhi Gadzhiev felt that his players sat back after going ahead, “I think that, for a large part of the game, especially before the goal, the team played well and had a noticeable advantage,” he said. “After scoring the goal, I understand that the players wanted to protect their lead but, in such situations, it is necessary to play more shrewdly, more calmly.”
Vadim Skripchenko, manager of Ural, reflected: “Unfortunately, today we made a lot of mistakes in defence. I believe that Amkar’s victory is deserved because the opposition today was more tenacious both in duels and desire to win.”
Lokomotiv Moscow – Krylya Sovetov 0:0
Lokomotiv manager Oleg Pashinin, in his first home game in charge, spoke after his side’s fourth successive draw. He said: “It was a home game and all of the guys and coaching staff wanted to earn the three points and please the fans. Certainly, we are disappointed by this result.”
Krylya Sovetov boss Frank Vercauteren commented: “My feelings are split. The first half was completely not up to our standard. Although we had one chance, Lokomotiv controlled everything. We lost the ball too often and did not make our opponents’ lives difficult. There was no belief. Heads were lowered, not raised. There were more negatives than positives. During the break, I asked the players, ‘Do you want to win the game? What needs to be done to win?’ In the second half, we played much better. Despite this, we could have lost.”
Arsenal Tula – Orenburg 0:0
Arsenal manager Sergei Pavlov watched as his team was held at home by Orenburg. He reflected: “The opposition today clearly played from defence. They closed down all the space for us and were difficult to open up. We had problems getting the ball to our strikers and we changed tactics during the game but it did not bring success. In such a game, one moment decides everything.”
Orenburg manager Robert Evdokimov was not satisfied with a draw. He said: “I believe that we lost two points. We carried out the game plan, we knew how the opponents would play. In the first half, we had three goalscoring chances and our opponents had none. In the second half, we had two chances and the opponents had one half-chance. We only defended ourselves after the ridiculous sending off.”
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