Application for the championship: how the victory over Rubin proved that Spartak is ready to challenge Zenit

Rehab for a defeat in a derby and a smile of fortune

The appearance of Spartak in first place on the eve of the pause for the national teams' matches gave rise to the hope in the hearts of the fans of the red and white that this season their favorites will finally be able to fight for the championship with Zenit.

However, the first autumn game ended in failure for Domenico Tedesco's charges.

In the Moscow derby, they lost to CSKA and lost the lead.

Next Spartak was waiting for another unpleasant opponent - Rubin by Leonid Slutskiy, who scored an excellent move at the start of the season.

This meeting was in many ways supposed to become a litmus test for the red and white and show whether they are capable of taking a punch.

And the duel in Kazan demonstrated that Tedesco's team became psychologically much stronger.

The Spartak footballers managed to rehabilitate themselves in front of the fans in Kazan and won the most important victory, which allowed them to catch up with Zenit in the standings. 

Larsson's quick ball and Merkulov's ridiculous own goal

The reds and whites were clearly lucky in this meeting.

The hosts started the match actively, but the first attack of the guests ended with a goal from Jordan Larsson.

The Swede's shot did not work out very well, but the ball flew right into the near nine. 

In the middle of the half, Nikita Medvedev, who was clearly nervous, played unsuccessfully at the exit and failed to knock the ball out with his fist.

As a result, he ricocheted right in the leg of Mikhail Merkulov and ended up in the net.  

It is surprising that during the entire match Spartak struck only one shot on target of the opponent's goal, but at the same time scored twice.

Rubin scored more than 20 shots, seven of which were on target. 

This season Tedesco's players are gaining points even in those matches where they did not look their best, for example, in the meetings with Rotor and Arsenal. 

At the same time, it cannot be said that the game in Kazan was not a success for Spartak.

The first half turned out to be practically exemplary for him.

The guests quickly scored two goals, after which they calmly controlled the course of the meeting and did not allow the opponent to create anything at their goal.

In the absence of the disqualified Hwang In Byom, Rubin practically did not have attacks through the center.

Oleg Shatov, who replaced him, was invisible, as was Djordje Despotovich, who was closed by the opponent's central defenders.

The Kazanians had to conduct an offensive through the flanks, where Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Denis Makarov were located. 

Overall, Spartak completely outplayed Slutsky's team in the center of the field.

Oliver Abilgor and Darko Yevtich could not cope with Alex Kral and Nail Umyarov.

The last one was especially good.

The footballer of the Russian youth team was not only accurate in passing (87.8%), but also made three selections and one interception.

Maksimenko's seven saves and Kutepov's great return

In the second half, the initiative passed to the hosts.

"Spartak" went to their goal and gave the ball.

But the turning point was the removal of Pavel Maslov in the 61st minute.

By this time, the defender of the red-and-white, guarding Kvaratskhelia, already had a yellow card, and Tedesco was preparing his replacement. 

However, the coaching staff of Muscovites did not have time to reshuffle quite a bit.

Kvaratskhelia on the left flank left Alex Krala with Roman Zobnin, and Maslov imprudently hit the Georgian on the legs, for which he received a second yellow card.

After that, "Rubin" finally pressed the opponent to the goal, and Slutsky, in addition, threw Ivan Ignatiev into the battle with Soltmurad Bakaev. 

However, the Spartak footballers generally did not succumb to panic and kept the slender defensive ranks.

And at the last line, Alexander Maksimenko looked great.

Maksimenko has seven saves, five of which were in the second half.

For example, he coped with the most dangerous blow by Ignatiev's head into the far corner and a powerful shot from Despotovich from close range.

We can say that Maksimenko had the best match of the season. 

Ilya Kutepov also coped with his work, replacing the injured Samuel Zhigot.

In the Russian Cup match with Rodina, representing the PFL, the defender did not look his best and even allowed the modest team to score the only goal. 

However, in Kazan, Kutepov acted reliably and reminded the fans that two years ago he was the main footballer of the Russian national team at the home world championship.

Ilya won three riding single combats, blocked five strikes and made two interceptions and tackles.

And in the first half, he regularly insured Maslov, who did not always hold back Kvaratskhelia.

Even the president of the capital club Leonid Fedun noted Kutepov separately.

“He's a professional!

Despite the fact that he had no playing practice, Ilya never showed that he was dissatisfied.

I trained well.

As soon as the coach gave him a chance, he used it 100%, "the Sport-Express functionary quotes. 

Zobnin also played a great match, without whom it is difficult to imagine the right flank of Spartak's defense.

In addition to direct work in defense (three tackles and one interception), he regularly joined attacks and performed 32 passes, three of which are key.

Zobnin took direct part in the episode with the first goal.

It was Roman who dragged the ball into the penalty area from the right flank, after which the shell bounced to Larsson.

Of the negative moments, it is worth highlighting the already mentioned mistake in the moment with the removal of Maslov, when the Russian national team player allowed Kvaratskhelia to beat himself too easily. 

And in general, the red and white in the second half pressed too hard to their goal and allowed the opponent to regularly penetrate into their own penalty area. But Tedesco managed to calm the situation with timely competent substitutions. The exit of Auston Urunov allowed Spartak to restore the balance in the center of the field, and the appearance of experienced Andrey Yeshchenko - to restrain the tired Kvaratskhelia. As a result, the guests were not allowed to organize the final assault against Rubin.