Lokomotiv Moscow’s striker Artem Dzyuba has been named in the squad for the upcoming Russian Premier League clash with Krasnodar in Week 20. The decision places the veteran forward among the key options for a game that could influence the mid-table balance as the season progresses. Dzyuba’s inclusion signals Lokomotiv’s intent to deploy his experience and goal-scoring nous to test Krasnodar’s defensive setup.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Kuban club goalkeeper Matvey Safonov—who recently recovered from a coronavirus infection—will likely be among the reserve players. In a strategic reshuffle, Stanislav Agkatsev is expected to step into the first-team duties for this fixture, highlighting Lokomotiv’s depth in goalkeeping and their readiness to adapt to different match scenarios.
The match is scheduled to take place in Moscow on March 18 and will kick off at 19:30 Moscow time. Local fans will be watches as both teams seek to gain momentum as the campaign moves into a crucial stretch, with tactical plans likely to hinge on maintaining compact defending and exploiting quick transitions when ball possession shifts.
Lokomotiv lineup preview: Lantratov, Smolnikov, Kuzmichev, Konti, Tiknizyan, Barinov, Karpuska, Miranchuk, Kamano, Pinyaev, Dziuba. These players form the spine of the squad, combining defensive solidity with attacking fluency. The midfield distribution aims to control the central zones, while the forward line looks to maximize service to Dzyuba and his running partners, pressing high to disrupt Krasnodar’s build-up from the back.
Do not hesitate: Khudyakov, Mitrov, Zhivoglyadov, Pogostnov, Mitai, Zhemaletdinov, Kulikov, Maradishvili, Shchetinin, Ignatiev, Glushenkov, Rakov. The depth chart includes a mix of experienced campaigners and younger talents who can add pace and directness if the game demands it, offering Lokomotiv a variety of tactical choices across different phases of play.
Krasnodar’s projected XI includes Agkatsev, Volkov, Kayo, Alonso, Ramirez, Banyats, Spertsyan, Kadi, David, Olusegun, Cordoba. This lineup blends robust defensive cover with dynamic attacking options, presenting Lokomotiv with a test on both flanks and through the middle, where quick breaks could decide the outcome of the contest.
Reserve players for Krasnodar to watch include Safonov, Shtepa, Petrov, Sorokin, Pivovarov, Litvinov, Akhmetov, Chernikov, Krivtsov, Batchi, and Kevin Pina. The breadth of Krasnodar’s bench provides managerial flexibility to respond to in-game shifts, whether through defensive stabilization or additional attacking thrust as required by the flow of play.
Earlier in the season, Dzyuba missed a stage of the Russian Cup of Regions Road quarterfinals against Akron Togliatti due to a microtrauma. The match concluded with Lokomotiv being defeated and eliminated from the competition, underscoring the ongoing need for squad rotation and careful player management as the season unfolds and the calendar becomes busier for the team.
Lokomotiv currently sits 12th in the Russian Championship standings with 19 points, reflecting a mid-table position that they will be keen to improve. Krasnodar, on 29 points, holds eighth place, signaling a push to climb further as the season advances and teams jostle for a higher ranking and European qualification opportunities.
Viktor Goncharenko, a former head coach of Yekaterinburg Ural, offered commentary after a recent match, noting that he received a red card from referee Alexei Emelin in the closing moments of the game against Dinamo Moscow in Week 20 of the Russian Premier League. The incident added to the narrative of a tightly contested campaign where discipline, officiating decisions, and morale can influence outcomes in critical fixtures as teams navigate the demanding schedule.