Artem Dzyuba, the Lokomotiv striker, posted a video on social media after missing a penalty against Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. The post spotlights the goals from the match and the penalties that did not find the net for Lokomotiv and Zenit. The clip is set to Gladiator by Dima Bilan, with lyrics that echo resilience and a return to form:
“And the beast must be freed from its chains Break the cage to get up And prove who is stronger And to fight again I’m like a gladiator in the arena The last will be the first Only if you win by yourself..”
Alongside the video, Dzyuba shared the caption Life is the best playwright …
Last weekend the striker again failed to convert a penalty against Krasnodar, yet Lokomotiv edged out a 3-2 victory. Dzyuba still found the net, scoring the decisive goal in the 65th minute of the match, a moment that underscored his importance to the squad. This goal marked the fourth of his tenure with Lokomotiv since joining during the winter transfer window, and he has appeared in three league fixtures in the current season.
There is context to his move. Former football official Olga Smorodskaya noted that the transfer to Lokomotiv has already justified its purpose, highlighting the strategic value of Dzyuba’s arrival for the club’s attacking options and experience on the pitch. The recent performance adds another chapter to a season where leadership and on-field impact have become noticeable themes for Lokomotiv in pursuit of regional success and domestic competition. [citation: Lokomotiv press]