CSKA Moscow head coach Marko Nikolic urged his team to forget the derby defeat and keep moving forward after the 2-0 loss to Spartak in round 14 of the Russian Premier League. Before the setback, CSKA had a nine-match stretch without defeat, a run that underscored the team’s steady form. Nikolic stressed that dwelling on a single result would not help the cause and that focus must return to the next challenges of the season. The message came as the club shifted attention from the disappointment of the derby toward upcoming fixtures, with the squad intent on maintaining a strong position in the title race.
Looking back, Nikolic argued that a clear, unemotional view of the game reveals a different picture. Watching without replays and the heat of the moment, certain angles stand out and the narrative shifts away from immediate emotions. Bongonda’s goal proved decisive, and there were not many dangerous moments for either side. The derby, he noted, should be assessed in the broader context of the team’s recent form rather than judged by a single 90 minutes, a perspective that aims to guide future preparations and performance.
Spartak took the lead through Theo Bongonda, who drilled a long-range shot from outside the penalty area just before the interval. Toward the end of the game Jesus Medina added a second goal, sealing the 2-0 victory. The result lifted Spartak to fifth place in the league with 25 points and reinforced the sense that a strong run of performances is translating into tangible league progress for the club, even as the calendar moves toward demanding fixtures ahead.
Discipline unsettled the flow in the 58th minute when CSKA’s Willian Rocha and Spartak’s Ruslan Litvinov were sent off after a scuffle. Rocha received a three-match ban while Litvinov was suspended for two matches. Additionally, CSKA’s Ivan Oblyakov was dismissed after earning a second yellow card in the 88th minute. The trio of dismissals altered the dynamic and tested both teams’ resolve as the match moved toward its closing stages, leaving room for tactical adjustments and late, hard-fought efforts from the remaining players.
Looking ahead, CSKA will travel to Samara to face Wings of the Soviets in an away league fixture on November 10, with kickoff at 13:00 Moscow time. The trip offers an opportunity to rebound from the derby setback and reaffirm momentum, while Spartak continues preparing for upcoming commitments in a schedule that tests depth and consistency across the squad. The result adds further texture to a season defined by competitive battles and moments of high intensity for both sides.
A former Spartak player commented on the meaning of the victory over CSKA, noting that such results carry psychological weight beyond the three points. For Spartak supporters, beating their archrivals strengthens confidence and signals potential for a sustained push in the campaign, a sentiment echoed by those who recall the rivalry’s history and its impact on player morale and fan expectations.