Dating a former coach
The draw for the 1/8 finals of the Europa League gave Spartak an interesting opponent.
The red-whites could meet with Barcelona, or they could get into the more modest Braga and Rangers.
As a result, they got "Leipzig" under the leadership of the former head coach of the team Domenico Tedesco.
In the capital's team, they have already spoken with enthusiasm about the future meeting with the ex-mentor.
For example, Captain Georgy Jikia noted that the confrontation would be very interesting.
Leipzig is a strong team that is playing great football right now.
It consists of high-quality players, I can note a good line of attack, ”the official website of Spartak quotes the defender.
The ten-time champions of Russia really got one of the strongest opponents at this stage.
After entering the Bundesliga, the Red Bulls fell below third place only once - in the 2017/18 season, when they became sixth.
In other cases, they took medals.
The team also achieved success in European competitions.
Less than two years ago, he reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where he lost to PSG - 0: 3.
The decline in results came after young coach Julian Nagelsmann left for Bayern.
The former head coach of Salzburg, Jesse Marsh, who replaced him, did not cope with his work and was dismissed in December.
He left the club, leaving his team in 11th place in the Bundesliga standings.
And in the Champions League, the team failed to impose competition between Manchester City and PSG and took third place.
Tedesco, who replaced him, managed to shake up the team and change the situation.
In 12 matches under his leadership in all tournaments, Leipzig suffered only two defeats, one of which was from Bayern in a tense struggle - 2: 3.
Such results helped to rise to fourth position in the national championship and return to the Champions League zone.
And in the 1/16 finals of the Europa League, the strong Real Sociedad managed to get past.
Leading the "red bulls", the former coach of "Spartak" first of all adjusted the game in defense.
Marsh tried to play in a four-back formation, and his replacement switched to a favorite formation with three central and a powerful fist in the support zone of Kevin Kampl and Konrad Laimer.
In terms of creation, Leipzig continues to have a lot of possession and in the current Bundesliga draw is third in this indicator (57.6%), behind only Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, and also relies on high pressure.
Much lies ahead for 24-year-old attacking midfielder Christopher Nkunku, who is having a great season and already has 35 goals and assists in all competitions (22 + 13).
The Portuguese Andre Silva, who scored 13 goals, perfectly complements him.
Remained in the squad and a lot of players who found even the first meeting with Zenit.
The paths of the German team and St. Petersburg crossed twice in European competitions.
In 2018, Leipzig also met with blue-white-blue in the 1/8 finals of the LE and turned out to be stronger in the sum of two matches (2:1, 1:1).
A year and a half later, they were in the same Champions League group, and the Red Bulls took over twice (2:1, 2:0).
"Spartak" has the opportunity to go further "
They are the favorites this time too, however, experts interviewed by RT are sure that Spartak has a chance.
According to the former team captain Dmitry Parfyonov, the red-whites are able to give results and show their maximum.
“It is no coincidence that they took first place in a difficult group with Napoli and Leicester.
It cannot be said that it is easier for them to play with top opponents, but here we are talking about only two meetings in which anything can happen.
This is not a smooth championship with a lot of rounds.
I think Spartak has the opportunity to go further, although, of course, it will not be easy, ”said the coach.
He also praised Leipzig's performance under Tedesco.
According to him, the team from Germany shows quality football and it is no coincidence that they suffered only two defeats in their last matches.
“The club's strategy is known - the education of talented young players with their subsequent sale.
This is a very balanced team that actively goes into pressure and boldly goes on the attack.
But Spartak also has its trump cards.
The team must come to the matches of the LE perfectly prepared.
Again, there are chances.
Show the maximum and you can get into the quarterfinals, ”added Parfenov.
However, he does not believe that Tedesco's recent work in Russia will help him in games with his former team.
“Now any coach has a huge amount of information and technical capabilities.
Tedesco still had some useful knowledge about the individual capabilities of the Spartak players, but I wouldn’t call it a huge plus.
Moreover, the coach of the red-whites has already managed to change after his departure.
So far, we do not understand how they will appear under the leadership of Paolo Vanoli, ”summed up Parfenov.
He was supported by the six-time champion of the country as part of Spartak Valery Kechinov, according to whom there were no weak opponents in the League.
Spartak got a serious opponent.
It will be very difficult, especially since the Russian team, by decision of UEFA, will play a home match on neutral territory.
Under such conditions, it will be doubly difficult to fight.
Yes, Spartak is only resuming the season, while Leipzig is on the move.
But this does not mean at all that Muscovites should functionally look much worse.
Take Zenith as an example.
The Petersburgers failed the first meeting with Betis, but the second was held at a good level.
And there was no impression that they were not ready, ”Kechinov explained.
But he also refused to give a forecast for the confrontation, since the red-whites once again changed their coach in the winter and seriously updated the squad.
“We just do not understand what philosophy Vanoli will choose and what kind of football the team will play under his leadership.
For now, it's all a big mystery to us.
Tedesco knows most of the Spartak players, their strengths and weaknesses.
And he will convey this knowledge to the wards.
But it's one thing to sort it out on paper, and another to demonstrate it on the field.
This will be a plus for Leipzig, but not at all a crucial factor, ”added Kechinov.
Meeting Chalov with Lazio and Khaikin with AZ
In general, fairly equal pairs were formed in the 1/8 finals of the LE.
The only exception is Barcelona, which in the confrontation with Galatasaray, which currently occupies only 13th place in the Turkish championship, will be considered a clear favorite.
At the same time, at the previous stage, the Catalans left no chance for the much more powerful Napoli, which is fighting for the championship in Serie A.
By the will of the lot, the fans are waiting for two French-Portuguese confrontations at once.
Monaco, whose colors are defended by Alexander Golovin, will face off against Braga, who knocked out the Moldavian Sheriff, and Lyon against Porto.
In another pair, a meeting of two Russian football players is possible - Alexei Miranchuk and Andrei Lunev: Atalanta will examine Bayer.
However, both domestic athletes are currently continuing to recover from injuries, as is the Iranian striker Serdar Azmoun, who moved to Leverkusen from Zenit this winter.
Tough rivals went to the two remaining teams from Spain.
Betis, who turned out to be stronger than Zenit at the previous stage, will play with the German Eintracht, and Sevilla with the English West Ham, which occupies the sixth line in the Premier League standings.
Finally, Rangers, who sensationally eliminated Borussia Dortmund, will face the Serbian Red Star.
Also on Friday, the draw for the 1/8 finals of the third most important European Cup, the Conference League, took place.
By the names of the teams, it turned out to be almost equally representative.
Of greatest interest is the confrontation between the English Leicester and the French Rennes.
One of the main favorites of the tournament ("Roma") got on the modest "Vitesse" from the Netherlands.
And Marseille, the offender of Lokomotiv, will try to cope with Basel, the colors of which Fedor Chalov has recently been defending.
Finally, the main sensation of the League of Conferences, the Norwegian Bodø-Glimt, with Russian goalkeeper Nikita Khaikin, will try to write a new chapter of their own history in the fight against AZ.