“Arrived when it was needed”

The match between Spartak and Zenit once again justified the status of one of the most anticipated football events of the year. To meet with a principal rival from St. Petersburg, distinguished guests gathered an order of magnitude more than they had before at the game with CSKA.

Unexpectedly for fans and journalists to cheer for their former team, the legendary ex-coach Oleg Romantsev arrived. A well-known specialist, who has not attended matches for more than a year, surprised the audience not only with his appearances, but also with an impassioned speech in which he said that the red and white “tear” the opponents.

“Why didn’t it appear for a long time? He arrived at the moment when it was needed, ”Romantsev explained to reporters.

The guests from the Neva arrived in high spirits. Zenit CEO Alexander Medvedev, entering the VIP stand, claimed that his players came to Moscow only to win and were ready to fight to the last.

Against the background of many other guests, among whom were ex-president of Lokomotiv Ilya Gerkus, former Rubin mentor Kurban Berdyev and top officials of the RFU and RPL, a real sensation among red and white fans caused the appearance of Alex Kral. The Czech midfielder signed a contract with Muscovites only a few hours before the starting whistle, but he has already become loved and recognizable by the public.

“I'm just thrilled! I have never seen such a thing anywhere. Awesome fans, this is clear now. I’m very glad that I came to Russia, your championship is higher than the level, so for me this is a real challenge, ”the Spartak rookie shared his emotions.

War of the stands and actions of support and memory

An integral part of matches of this level are large-scale performances and banners with a hidden meaning, aimed at hitting the opponent’s fans. This time, the Fratria Association of Spartak fans prepared a colorful and large-scale action, reproducing on the canvas photos from the celebration of the victory goal in the previous round.

In addition, fans addressed words of support to ex-Spartak defender and curator of the Academy of Cherenkov Vasily Kulkov. A few days before the meeting, it became known that he was fighting oncology.

Our banner to Vasily Kulkov.

Sergeich! Hold on! We must win this battle for your life 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/dXXLCbTi1E

- Supporters Group News (@SupportersNews) September 1, 2019

Blue-white-blue, in turn, established a large banner in memory of the Beslan tragedy that occurred exactly 15 years ago.

However, later the fans still switched to a dive among themselves. On the rostrum of Spartak, fabric stretches appeared alternately dedicated to the latest events in the rival’s camp. In particular, the sensational transition of midfielder Alexei Sutormin, who cost the country's champions a symbolic amount of 50 thousand rubles.

We prepared another message for the swamp comrades.

Hello to all your Dziubs (return the bathrobes!), Sutormin and Kokorin. pic.twitter.com/YFnwpi2x3D

- Supporters Group News (@SupportersNews) September 1, 2019

“Where am I to sit?”

Excitement is a common occurrence for matches of this level. However, he was especially great at this game. So, even the goalkeeper of Spartak Alexander Selikhov did not have enough free seats in the press box. Looking around the crowded sector, the footballer behaved in a gentlemanly manner and even offered to bring an additional chair to two girls who were also left without seats.

As a result, the goalkeeper, who didn’t get into the application by the decision of the medical headquarters, sat down modestly right on the steps of the tribune, but he soon found the last empty seat next to his teammates Reziuan Mirzov and Maxim Glushenkov, who were rooting for his team.

"Sacks, I'm watching you"

Special attention should be paid to the relations of the stands with the chief referee of the meeting Vitaly Meshkov. His actions, and especially the canceled goal against Andrei Lunev, literally drove the audience to fury.

Obscene screams from the central sectors continually reached the referee, the most decent of which sounded as follows.

“Sacks! What are you doing? I’m watching you, ”one of the red-white fans turned to the judge in raised tones.

And in general, the emotions of the stadium balanced between anger and despair. The polar mood was felt only from the guest sector, which after the goal of his team practically did not calm down even for a second.

The Spartak audience chanted “Forward, Spartak” more often, and after the next missed moment clutched its head.

It was not easy in this atmosphere to be the youngest fans of red and white. Regular decisions of the judge and unfulfilled moments in the performance of favorite football players brought the children to tears. The most impressionable parents had to reassure watching cartoons.

The right dad - cartoons for the child, farther nerves)) pic.twitter.com/Ud4iYv1z6r

- Kseniia Rakhnovskaia (@xx_Xenon_xx) September 1, 2019

Passions boiled and on the edge. Usually calm Oleg Kononov this time, linear referees were often forced to restrain. Muscovite mentor periodically tried to overcome the boundaries of the technical zone and shout to the chief judge and his charges.

Nervousness was transmitted to the players. Spartak midfielder Zelimkhan Bakaev repeatedly raised his voice at the bowling boys, and his partner Andre Schürrle emotionally reacted to his mistakes and sometimes was ready to tear himself to pieces. Paying attention to this fact, the journalists decided to check with Alexander Selikhov in what language the world champion usually swears.

“Now, I think it’s in German,” said the goalkeeper of Spartak.

“Ask Ozdoev what happened”

The intensity of the struggle from the field spread to the sub-tribune room. As it became known to RT, the Zenit midfielder Magomed Ozdoev immediately after the final whistle in an emotional form began to express dissatisfaction with the actions of Spartak captain Georgy Dzhikiya.

Escalations of the conflict were prevented by teammates and security officers who intervened in time and separated the players.

Minutes later, both players commented on what had happened.

“It's okay, it's football. Emotions, ”said RT Ozdoev.

However, his counterpart took the incident differently, which he hastened to inform reporters.

“It is necessary to ask Ozdoev what happened. Initially, there was nothing there, a normal gaming moment. Yes, it was loud. And in the subtribe, and on the field. That's why it is a derby. Everyone wants to win, ”said Jikia.