Do you remember when Spartak was ahead of Zenit before heads-up? Good sign for Abaskal!
Dmitry Zimin August 17, 2023, 16:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Yes, it was the same season.
You have definitely read the news about Spartak’s best start in many years. About the fact that the team is on or ahead of schedule for the championship season. And in general, everything is great: a balanced composition, a cool trainer, and there is no reason to suddenly fall. And that means it’s time to fight Zenit for the title.
On Sunday the teams will meet in Moscow. “Spartak” comes to the match in fourth place with nine points, Peter – in eighth place with seven. We are so used to the inverse ratio that many could already forget, and when was the last time Spartak approached the game with Zenit, being higher in the table.
It turned out that a long time ago. In the last five years of hegemony, Zenit has been superior time and time again. Temporarily, Moscow could only take the lead in the 2020/2021 season. Then, in September, the rojiblancos jumped to first place, but there were no games with a main rival in that period. They played in October and December, when Peter was already taller.
But the 2016/2017 championship season is an exception. Then “Spartak” both times approached matches with “Zenith” as the leader of the RPL.
Zenit is not judged in the best light at the start of the RPL:
Zenith should again have questions for the judges. Table of refereeing errors after the 4th round of the RPL
“We don’t like being killed like this.” First match: Ivanov’s mistakes
The teams met for the first time in the ninth round. “Spartak” at that time was three points ahead of “Zenith”, the game was held in St. Petersburg. The first episode of the match raised many questions. The ball touched the hand of Yeshchenko, who was rolling in a tackle, and Sergei Ivanov immediately awarded a penalty. Criscito made it possible. After Spartak rallied, Peter took the lead again, then missed. All this in the first half. After the break, Zenit scored twice, once more from a non-obvious penalty. The guests also had moments, but they did not know how to specify them.
But the main theme of the next few days is arbitration. In Spartak, they were very dissatisfied with Ivanov’s work. Considering there was no penalty, and Krishito deserved to be sent off during the match.
Here are some quotes that describe what is happening:
Sergei Rodionov: (then general manager of the club): I don’t remember a worse arbitration. Yes, we were wrong, we could have failed. But the fact that the referee’s actual errors affect the result is very disappointing. The Department of Arbitration and Inspection should think about this problem. This team doesn’t need help.
Ivelin Popov: I agree with our CEO. I think the referee was deliberately wrong in the direction of St. Petersburg. Everything was clear. It is unpleasant for us that when we go out into the field they kill us like that. The second penalty at our gates is not serious.
Ivelin Popov and Denis Glushakov
Photo: Alexander Mysyakin, Championship
Denis Glushakov: Ivanov should not be blamed for all the goals: the players lost concentration, the goals were scored under us, but the whole country saw … Many messages were written to me, serious people: “We are surprised how you scored two goals with such arbitration.” To be honest, I’m ashamed of our championship, I don’t even want to comment.
Zenit after this victory reached Spartak on points. The rivals were even until round 13, where Peter lost to Terek. Afterwards the rojiblancos were left as the only leaders.
The fourth round was unsuccessful for Spartak, not a single player in the symbolic team:
Team of the 4th round of the RPL. As part of 10 newcomers at once and none from Spartak
The second match is the victory of Spartak. After they were named champions
New meeting – April. At the time, Spartak was confident up front and ahead of Zenit and CSKA by eight points. The match was called potentially championship – in case Moscow won, they were preparing to be crowned seven rounds before the end.
And so it happened. Spartak won 2:1 thanks to goals from Promes and Samedov, and the first question in the press conference to Carrera was: “Are you champions yet?”
This time nobody noticed the referee’s errors (although it seems that Zenit was not awarded a penalty), nothing mattered except the victory of the team that had been going for the trophy for so long.
“I have nothing to say. The race is over,” said Zenith striker Artyom Dzyuba after Spartak’s victory. However, everyone agreed with this. After all, not only Peter lost points, but also CSKA: in their field they tied with Rostov.
Artem Dziuba and Dmitry Kombarov
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
Spartak has reached the championship. And both matches with Peter were especially important for them. How will it work this time?
