Lokomotiv Moscow opened their pre-season schedule with a high-scoring friendly against Gulf United, a team based in the United Arab Emirates. The clash ended in a dominant 11-1 victory for the Railwaymen, a result that underscored the intensive training camp mindset and the squad’s growing team chemistry as it gears up for the competitive calendar ahead. The visitors delivered a spirited challenge early on, but Lokomotiv quickly imposed their rhythm, moving the ball with precision and creating chances through quick interchanges, width play, and relentless pressing. This match served not only as a goal fest but also as a valuable gauge of fitness levels, tactical understanding, and the depth available to the coaching staff during a crucial period of preparation in which every minute on the pitch counts for resilience and cohesion.
Among the scorers, Vladislav Sarveli marked the occasion with a hat-trick that highlighted his pace, timing, and composure in front of goal. Joining him on the scoresheet were Rifat Zhemaletdinov, Sergey Pinyaev, Maxim Nenakhov, Egor Pogostnov, Vadim Rakov, Artem Dzyuba, Alexey Batrakov and Dmitry Radikovsky, each contributing one strike to round out a remarkable team performance. The wide spread of goals reflected a collective approach in which multiple players demonstrated their goal-scoring instincts, versatility in positions, and the ability to exploit gaps in the UAE side’s back line. With the camp proceeding toward its final stages, Lokomotiv remains focused on building a dynamic attacking framework and tightening defensive organization as preparations intensify ahead of the regular season. In the near term, the Muscovites are slated to meet Rostov in another friendly, an encounter that will further test depth, refine tactical patterns, and provide additional opportunities for squad rotation and evaluation of emerging talents level by level.
Entering the second cycle of the campaign after eighteen weeks in the current Russian Premier League, Lokomotiv holds fourth place in the standings with thirty-one points. The team has accrued eight victories, suffered three defeats, and settled for seven draws, illustrating a steady blend of resilience and consistency in a competitive domestic landscape. After the mid-season pause, the Railwaymen will resume their league campaign with an away fixture against Dinamo on March the third, an assignment that promises a stern test on the road and a chance to demonstrate growth under pressure. As the league resumes, attention will also turn to domestic cup commitments, with a marquee showdown scheduled for March fourteenth in the Russian Cup. The team will face Baltika Kaliningrad, led by Mikhail Galaktionov, in a rematch stemming from a high-stakes Russian Premier League Road quarter-final. The first clash between the sides finished in a 2-2 draw, setting up a tantalizing rematch where all the facets of Lokomotiv’s development will be put to the test against a determined opponent.
In the broader context of club strategy, the discussions around player movements and squad development have continued, with statements clarifying the club’s assessment of transfers and the overall plan for integrating new and existing players. This pre-season phase is viewed as a critical period to align injury-free conditioning with tactical implementation, enabling the squad to hit the ground running when competitive matches resume. The coaching staff remains focused on sharpening the balance between attacking intent and defensive solidity, ensuring that rotations preserve energy while preserving high intensity across periods of play. The upcoming fixtures, including league battles and cup ties, are viewed as concrete tests of the players’ capacity to execute complex game plans under pressure, adapt to different opponents, and maintain consistency across a demanding schedule.