Tied Derby

The Moscow derby got Lokomotiv a bit understaffed. The two main central midfield figures Lassana Diarra and Mbark Boussoufa were both sidelined due to injuries. The coach again had to find a different pair. The search resulted in installing Aleksandr Sheshukov as a stopper and Sergey Tkachyov in the hole. Spartak's main surprise was the keeper Andrey Dikan who was back into the squad after almost a year's break.

When the starting whistle was blown, the packed arena saw Spartak rushing forward. But Lokomotiv's attacks looked more promising. In one episode, Maicon worked the ball well and rifled a close-range shot which tested Dikan's reflexes. Anyway, a linesman saw the Brazilian offside.

In a couple of minutes it was hot in Spartak's area again. Tkachyov played one-two with N'Doye and stroke. In a move to block it, defender Bryzgalov was close to scoring an own goal but the ball bounced off the post.

The visitors counted on playing long balls to their lone forward Yura Movsisyan but Vedran Corluka did not allow his opponent a single opportunity to threaten the goal.

In mid-half Aleksandr Samedov had a chance. The midfielder came to take a direct free kick, bent the ball over the wall but Dikan was there again, tipping it away.

Soon Renat Yanbayev could have assisted if N'Doye would have been luckier. The right winger rushed down the flank and crossed to the box where the Senegalese lacked just a millimeter to reach the ball and direct it into the empty goal.

Before the half-time, emotions broke out. Vitaliy Denisov tripped his opponent who immediately ran to the referee demanding a second yellow card for our defender but without any success.

Early in the second half N'Doye eventually sent the ball into the back of the net but only after he had handplayed it, so the goal was cancelled.

In the next episode, Samedov tried his luck again but Dikan stopped his mid-range shot.

Here the game calmed down again only to explode 10 minutes later. Maicon broke down the left wing and crossed to the box where Samedov and N'Doye had good chances. Alexander chose to head but the ball shook the crossbar.

The closer to the final whistle, the slower Spartak played. On the other hand, the hosts kept creating chances. Maicon had the ball near the area and preferred to shoot but wide. Next minute, Magomed Ozdoyev passed to Roman Pavlyuchenko but an opponent intercepted. A minute before the final whistle Renat Yanbayev was fouled at near the area. Ozdoyev played a cross to Sheshukov who failed to pose any aerial threat.

The teams secured a point each, and the Railwaymen now have a minimal advantage over the runner-up Zenit.

Lokomotiv - Spartak 0:0

Lokomotiv: Abayev, Corluka, Durica, Denisov, Shishkin, Yanbayev, Sheshukov, Samedov (Grigoryev, 82), Tkachyov (Ozdoyev, 85), Maicon, N'Doye (Pavlyuchenko, 85)

Spartak: Dikan, Bryzgalov, Parshivlyuk, D. Kombarov, Makeyev (Bochetti, 79), Tino Costa, Rafael Carioca (Romulo, 86), Glushakov, Ozbiliz, Jurado, Movsisyan (Yakovlev, 83)

Yellow cards: Bryzgalov, 24. Denisov, 40. Carioca, 51. D. Kombarov,  53. Shishkin, 73.

Referee: Mikhail Vilkov (Nizhniy Novgorod).

March, 30. Moscow. Lokomotiv Stadium. 28800 spectators.