The latest round of the Russian Premier League delivered several gripping encounters. CSKA and Krasnodar battled to a 1-1 draw, while Baltika secured a victory over Akron, propelling them into the leading pack. Lokomotiv, however, squandered a potential win against Krylia Sovetov, ending their match in a 2-2 stalemate.
Spectacular football in Kaliningrad and an electrifying atmosphere at VEB Arena highlighted Sunday`s Russian Championship fixtures. Baltika, recently promoted from the First League, briefly held the top spot for several hours before being surpassed by the nation`s premier clubs. The clash between CSKA and Krasnodar delivered a thrilling 1-1 draw, captivating spectators.
Adding to the tension was the match officiating. While the referee, Rafael Shafeev, didn`t make blatantly wrong decisions, there were numerous controversial calls and frequent VAR reviews, unsettling both players and fans. In the first half, Shafeev disallowed goals from Kislyak and Cordoba, both after VAR intervention. Five minutes later, the duo found the net again, with Kislyak and then Cordoba scoring, both goals being allowed this time. However, ten minutes after the break, Shafeev sent off the Colombian player, Cordoba, for lightly grazing defender Moises` arm with his studs. While many disagreed with the verdict, the referee`s decision stood.
Vladislav Radimov, UEFA Cup and Super Cup winner, commented on Match Premier:
“They simply ruined a match that could have been played out for normal viewers to enjoy. But I don`t even want to discuss it. It will be more interesting now to see how Krasnodar and CSKA adapt. Musaev, I think, was brought on to refresh the attacking line. In that regard, you need more individually strong players to break down this defense. Although Krasnodar, as we see, isn`t sitting back. But, as we see, there are already five men at the back, and of course, you can only rely on counter-attacks. Because attacking with full force against CSKA, with one less player, is risky, wouldn`t you agree? The fast players that Celestine has at his disposal can break away. And here, there won`t be enough people — neither to press the player nor to cover from behind.”
The Kuban side proved their strength, holding their own with ten men against one of Russia`s top teams (arguably themselves included) to secure a 1-1 draw. Following this, the impressive Baltika dropped to third place on goal difference. Nevertheless, the leading quartet maintains a gap from Zenit and Spartak.
The leading group forms a quartet because Lokomotiv once again missed an opportunity to reclaim the top spot. Had it not been for a last-second penalty awarded against them due to Komlichenko`s foul, the `Railwaymen` would have been in first place. Instead, they settled for a 2-2 draw in their home clash against Krylia.
Against the backdrop of Lokomotiv`s misstep, the high standards of Baltika`s head coach, Andrei Talalaev, garnered admiration. Baltika defeated Akron 2-0 away from home, yet the perfectionist Talalaev highlighted not only the positives but also the team`s shortcomings:
“I want to thank the lads for their quality performance in this period and wish us, perhaps, more consistent football. I liked how we played in the first half. In the second, unfortunately, I would have preferred us to be more constructive. If you heard during the match, I shouted `Control!` and `Transition to positional attack!` a lot… But the guys can`t yet take over this game management themselves. So, I have to influence the game personally quite a bit. I would like to sit a little calmer on the bench and enjoy watching my guys work.”
On Saturday, Spartak defeated Sochi 2-1 at home, with both of Barco`s goals coming from questionable penalties. Meanwhile, Zenit comfortably beat Pari NN 2-0 in St. Petersburg.
Current Standings: Krasnodar leads with 16 points. CSKA, Baltika, and Lokomotiv follow with 15 points each (in that order). Zenit is fifth with 12 points, while Spartak and Rubin each have 11 points. Notably, CSKA has extended its unbeaten run to 21 consecutive matches, equalling their club record from 2015.
The national football championship now enters a two-week break, with the Russian national team taking center stage. On Thursday, September 4th, Valeri Karpin`s squad will face Jordan at Lukoil Arena. Following that, on September 7th, they will play an away match against Qatar in Al Rayyan.
