Petersburg “Zenith” and former Russia national team player Vladimir Bystrov shared his thoughts after the recent clash between Rostov and Lokomotiv. He said he did not anticipate such a striking performance from Artem Dzyuba, the standout striker for Moscow’s Lokomotiv.
The match, part of the 18th round of the Russian Premier League, ended in a 3-1 victory for the visiting team from Lokomotiv. Dzyuba delivered a hat trick, while Nikolai Komlichenko netted Rostov’s consolation goal.
According to Bystrov, quoted by Match TV, he was surprised by Dzyuba’s display. He noted that younger players often struggle to impose themselves, yet Dzyuba rose to the occasion with authority. The veteran remarked that the coaching decision to trust Dzyuba and include him in the starting XI shaped the game, enabling Lokomotiv to build momentum around the forward. The second goal came after Dzyuba seized a chance in the penalty area, and the forward then completed the scoring with a third goal that reflected the relentless effort of the whole team.
Bystrov also referenced a likely discussion with teammates Glushenkov and Pinyaev in the build up to the match. He recalled a moment from an earlier game against Spartak when Pinyaev altered his run and asked Dzyuba to play from behind, a cue that showed the striker’s presence and willingness to stretch play. The coach, Galaktionov, apparently reinforced the game plan in the dressing room, according to Bystrov.
For Dzyuba, the three goals represented a significant return, coming after a stint abroad. He began the season with Adana Demirspor in Turkey, a contract he terminated a few months later. Returning to Russia as a free agent, he signed with Lokomotiv and has since begun to demonstrate his qualities once more on the domestic stage.
Lokomotiv’s victory lifted them to 16 points, elevating them from 14th to 13th in the national standings. Rostov remained in third place with 35 points. The result tightened the table in some areas, while Lokomotiv gained momentum at a critical time of the campaign.
Additionally, Vyacheslav Koloskov, the former Honorary President of the Russian Football Union, voiced a firm stance regarding national-team selections. He expressed doubt that Artem Dzyuba would be invited to the squad by Valery Karpin, even after this strong performance. This assessment adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about whether Dzyuba’s club form translates into a national-team return.