Vladimir Bystrov, a former midfielder for the Russian national team, offered his take on how Saint Petersburg’s Zenit and Moscow’s Spartak have approached the winter transfer market. He spoke with Sports Express, sharing his views on the two clubs’ strategies and results. Bystrov noted that Zenit had strengthened, while Spartak’s activity appeared less impactful in his eyes. He commented on the recruitment of Ugalde, acknowledging that Spartak brought in several players for solid sums, yet he questioned whether the acquisitions would yield any immediate return. After Promes, Bystrov observed, it seemed that the other foreign players in Spartak were not clearly delivering a clear benefit, leaving him unconvinced about the overall impact of the transfers.
February 23 marked the official close of the winter transfer window in the Russian Premier League (RPL). Zenit emerged as the heaviest spender, investing roughly 29.85 million euros. The rest of the league together spent just over 39 million euros, illustrating a notable gap in transfer activity between Zenit and the other clubs.
With the league resuming, Spartak faced St. Petersburg in their first match back, while Zenit prepared to face Spartak in Saint Petersburg. The often-anticipated clash was scheduled to kick off at 19:30 Moscow time on March 2, drawing attention from fans across the country and beyond as both teams aimed to consolidate their positions early in the second portion of the season.
After 18 rounds of the season, Krasnodar led the standings with 38 points, signaling a strong push for the title race. Zenit tracked closely in second place, two points behind the leaders. Dynamo Moscow sat third with 32 points, while Spartak stood in fifth with 30 points, placing them in a competitive but challenging position as the campaign progressed. The table underscored how tightly packed the league had become, with several clubs within striking distance of the top, and the implications for European qualification and domestic honors becoming clearer as each round passed.
In retrospection, Zenit has faced scrutiny over their transfer decisions, with some observers labeling certain moves as potentially miscalculated in hindsight. The season’s market activity highlighted the pressure on top clubs to balance spending with on-field outcomes, and it underscored how a single off-season policy can influence a team’s trajectory for months to come. For Zenit and Spartak, the path to sustained success appeared to hinge on balancing new talent with established performance, while the rest of the league sought to close gaps and capitalize on any momentary missteps from the title contenders.