FC Spartak Moscow 1-1 (1-1) FC Krasnodar
Goals: Zé Luís, 14 (Ayrton, 1-0), Pereyra, 25 (Ramírez, 1-1).
FC Spartak Moscow: Selikhov, Rasskazov, Dzhikiya, Bocchetti, Ayrton, Guliyev, Zobnin, Lomovitsky (Melgarejo, 44), Hanni (Glushakov, 82), Luiz Adriano (Melkadze, 63), Zé Luís.
FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Ramírez, Fjóluson, Martynovich, Petrov, Kaboré, Gazinsky, Pereyra (Olsson, 67), Wanderson (Skopintsev, 80), Suleymanov (Ari, 61), Claesson.
Yellow cards: Hanni, 33 (foul play) – Martynovich, 49 (attack breakdown) Kaboré, 52 (attack breakdown), Ari, 76 (unsporting behaviour).
Red card: Martynovich, 90+4 (2nd yellow card, attack breakdown).
Referees: Levnikov (Saint Petersburg), Vorontsov (Yaroslavl), Vereteshkin (Saint Petersburg).
3 March 2019. Moscow. Otkritie Arena Stadium. Cloudy. – 2 degrees. 27 662 spectators.
In the opening matchday of the spring part of the Russian Premier League championship FC Krasnodar met their direct rival in the medal run, FC Spartak. The game was staged away in frosty Moscow. The black-greens conceded an opener on the 14th minute after Zé Luís made good use of his one-on-one situation with the Krasnodar keeper. The Bulls then seized back the initiative and mid through the second half they made the score equal again. Claesson let the ball through in a clever way as it was sent by Ramírez to Mauricio Pereyra, and the Uruguayan player shot it from the centre of the box into the bottom corner of Selikhov’s domain.
The wide open attacking type of football lasted until the very full-time, and the visitors had more chances to snatch the win away. Two aimed shots by Claesson and Petrov unfortunately hit the woodwork twice. On another occasion Wanderson lacked some accuracy when finishing the attack. As a result, the final whistle recorded a rather natural outcome to this match, a 1-1 tie.