More and more Russian footballers come to the European championships. The last notable transfer is that of Arsen Zakharyan to Real Sociedad. How was the debut of the 20-year-old midfielder in Spain? And how did the Russians perform at foreign championships in general?
Alexander Golovin (Monaco, France)
Alexander Golovin
Photo: Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images
“Monaco” in the last round for the first time in the season lost points. The Monegasques staged a thriller with Nantes, drawing 3:3. Golovin spent all 90 minutes on the field, but did not score a single goal action. Alexander as a whole is “quiet” for all three rounds. Are you getting used to the demands of the new coach Adi Hütter? However, Golovin passes almost all matches in full, if they change him, then in the end. That is why Hütter believes in the Russians, even despite the “drought”.
Golovin remains the enforcer of Monaco’s standards. What about the statistics? Opta Sports presented the following data: Golovin has four shots (one on target, 0.3 xG), only two shots (0.25 xA) and an average passing accuracy of 76%. Of Alexander’s seven crosses, only three turned out to be accurate, the percentage of successful hits was 50% (3/6), and in the outside box the Russian touched the ball only seven times. The defense is also poor: five tackles and 45% of the martial arts won. But Golovin is not a defensive player, but we expect the attacking metrics to still adjust. The main thing is that Monaco is first in Ligue 1 with seven points after three games. In the next match, the Monegasques will host last season’s second team, Lens, at home.
Golovin is the most expensive Russian in Europe in history:
Zakharyan’s transition is among the most important for Russians to Europe. More expensive is sold only five.
Daler Kuzyaev (Havre, France)
Daler Kuzyaev
Photo: hac-foot.com
Kuzyaev’s move to Le Havre is one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer in Russia. Daler has always wanted to try his luck in Europe, but only now was he able to. And he started having fun. In the debut match of the 1st league against Montpellier (2-2), Kuzyaev was indirectly to blame for one of Le Havre’s missed goals, and in the following match against Brest (1-2) he scored the first goal from him In the third game of the season against Rennes (2-2), there was a regression to the average: Daler scored neither in a positive nor a negative direction. Kuzyaev spent 85 minutes on the field and was only substituted at the end. WhoScored gave the Russian a score of 6.4 for the game. In his account, one tackle, one match won and 76% successful passes. Opta points out that Kuzyaev is Le Havre’s best player in the early rounds in terms of participation in shot combinations from the field (15 actions, Samuel Grandseer, second, 11). The Russian also shares the team’s top spot in hits (5) and under passes (5). Kuzyaev ranks first in touches in the outside box (12) and accurate passes in the final third (34), as well as second in possession returns (21) and rebounds (21). So far, Le Havre sits 14th in the Ligue 1 standings, having picked up just two points from three rounds. Not bad for a newcomer to the league. In the next meeting, Kuzyaev’s team will host Lorient at home. A real chance to get the first victory.
We analyze the last game of Le Havre Kuzyaev:
Kuzyaev in France found an unexpected situation. And his team has a powerful comeback with ten men!
Arsen Zakharyan (Real Sociedad, Spain)
Arsen Zakharyan
Photo: realsociedad.eus
Without a doubt, the main summer signing of the RPL. The saga that has lasted for over a year has come to an end. Zakharyan was sent to Chelsea, Lazio, Strasbourg, Galatasaray, Barcelona, but in the end he ended up with Sociedad. The amount of the transfer is 12 million euros, Arsene’s contract provides for a release of 60 million euros, and Dinamo will also receive 10% of the transfer amount in the event of a subsequent sale of the player to Sociedad. Zajaryan made his debut with the Basques in the Matchday 3 match of the Example against Las Palmas (0-0). The 20-year-old Russian entered the field in the 75th minute: he touched the ball eight times, made two accurate passes (one under-hit, 40% accurate) and also won two martial arts (out of two). Sociedad is 12th in the table with three points from three games. In the next round, Zakharyan’s team will host Granada at home. Zakharyan can get more minutes of play, as well as scoring effective actions. We are waiting for achievements from Arsen!
How the Russians played their first games in Europe against Zakharyan:
Zajaryan is ready to play for Real Sociedad. And how did other Russians debut in the big leagues?
Magomed Ozdoev (PAOK, Greece)
Magomed Ozdoyev
Photo: www.paokfc.gr
The 30-year-old midfielder signed for PAOK at the beginning of August. Ozdoev signed a two-year deal. Magomed has four games (two in the conference league, two in the Greek league). In the last round, PAOK faced Kifisia. Ozdoev’s team won 2-1. The Russian spent the entire game on the field. He didn’t score goals, but he was useful in other ways. Opta Sports reports that Ozdoev made 81 touches (second on the team), made a shot and passed under the blow (passing accuracy – 87%), and also intercepted the ball once. Of other interesting statistics: 19 assists in the last third (second of the team), six duels won and two tackles (the best of the team in both metrics). In general, Ozdoev shows class in Greece! PAOK, after two rounds, shares first place in the table with Olympiacos, having achieved two victories. In the next meeting, the Thessaloniki team will host the Scottish “Hearts” at home in the playoff round of the Conference League. And on September 3, within the framework of the Greek Championship, he will visit OFI.
Denis Cheryshev (Venice, Italy)
Denis Cheryshev
Photo: veneziafc.it
Cheryshev ended up in Serie B back in the 2022/2023 season. According to the results of the championship, Venice failed to rise to the elite division, losing in the playoffs to Cagliari. Cheryshev was even going to leave the Italian club. The executive director of Venice, Alexander Menta, reported that “the salary of a Russian is too high for the Club.” For example, Levante showed interest in Denis. True, in the end Cheryshev remained in Venice. And he has already played two games in Serie B. On Saturday, August 28, Denis came on as a substitute in the matchday 2 game against Cosenza (1-1).
Cheryshev spent about 20 minutes on the field, but did not score with effective actions. In round 1, the Russian spent nine minutes in the match against Como (3-0). Until now, Cheryshev has limited time, but there is no doubt that he will once again become one of the leaders of Venice.
Roman Neustadter (Westerlo, Belgium)
roman neustadter
Photo: kvcwesterlo.be
The 35-year-old Russian moved to Westerlo in 2022. Neustadter doesn’t let up from the start, being the main central defender. The new season Roman also started at the base. He played the full five games in the opening rounds. In the last game against Mechelen, his Westerlo lost 2:3. Neustadter is one of the club’s best players according to WhoScored. Roman’s score is 6.63 (fourth on the team). The Russian has an average of 88.4% of accurate passes, 1.8 martial arts won, 1.4 tackles, two interceptions, 0.4 fouls, 4.8 clearances and one block. But Westerlo is sad in the table: one point in five days and penultimate, 15th place. Neustadter’s team can improve on September 2 in the away game against the Circle of Bruges.
Andrey Lunev (Karabakh, Azerbaijan)
Andrey Lunev
Photo: www.qarabagh.com
The 31-year-old Russian moved from Bayer to Qarabag in August. According to Sport24, Lunev signed a two-year contract. On Sunday, August 27, Andrey made his Qarabag debut in the Azerbaijani Championship match against Kapaz (1-1). In the 86th minute, the rival was able to score a goal against Lunev and get the tie. After four rounds, Qarabag is third in the championship with seven points. Will Andrey help the new team to become champion?
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Russians who did not play in the last round
Alexander Kokorin/Alexei Miranchuk
Photo: Gabriele Maltinti, Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Fiorentina striker Alexander Kokorin He had a great pre-season, but coach Vincenzo Italiano still prefers other forwards. In the round 2 match against Lecce (2-2), the Russian again stayed on the bench. Argentine Lucas Beltrán started and was replaced by Mbala N’Zola. Alexander has no chance due to high competition. We expect Italiano to give Kokorin playing time in the upcoming matches.
Alexey Miranchuk until he found a new club and stayed at Atalanta. Miranchuk was not included in the application for the round 2 match against Frosinone (1-2). Tuttosport sends Alexei to Torino, the club where he was on loan last season. Let’s see if Miranchuk is back in Turin.
Bodø-Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Khaikin He did not play in the last round of the Norwegian championship. But it is not about choosing a coach, but about postponing the team’s game. So Haikin is doing well at Bodø-Glimt. Ahead of the club is the qualifying match of the conference league against Romanian Sepsi and the championship match against Ham-Kam (September 3).
Yuri Lodigin Play in the Greek Panathinaikos. But he so far he has never entered the field in the new season. On matchday 2 of the Championship, Panathinaikos defeated Volos (3-0), but Yuri was not even on the bench.
Kokorin had an impressive preseason. Fiorentina should give him a chance:
“No one will be surprised if Kokorin shows up at the base.” Will a Russian be given a new chance in Italy?
