In a vibrant round sixteen clash of the Russian Premier League, Spartak Moscow leveraged its chances more effectively than Lokomotiv, clinching a 5-2 victory at the Lukoil Arena. The match unfolded with plenty of attacking flair as both teams pressed high and sought to dominate the tempo. Dmitry Bulykin, a former Spartak striker and Russian international, shared his assessment in an interview with socialbites.ca, noting that the game delivered the kind of intensity fans expect from a derby and that Spartak’s finishing touch proved decisive on the day.
“The teams played magnificently, showed offensive football, competed and scored goals. Spartak did better. Of course, when you are ahead 3:0, it is very difficult for the other team to catch up with you. And if they try to compare, very good opportunities for counter-attacks will start to emerge, and we saw that”, Bulykin said.
The spectacle took place at the Lukoil Arena, where Spartak vaulted ahead in an emphatic fashion. Manfred Ugalde notched a hat trick, scoring in the 10th, 21st and 34th minutes of the first half to seize control. After the break, Lokomotiv found a moments’ relief through Sergei Pinyaev in the 55th minute and Zherzino Nyamsi in the 63rd, briefly trimming the deficit. Yet Ugalde’s momentum continued as he added a 73rd-minute strike, reportedly marking Spartak’s first goal in the Russian Premier League in the last 30 years for the club in that competition. Ezequiel Barco completed the scoring for Spartak with his 80th-minute finish, sealing a memorable afternoon for the hosts.
With the win, Spartak collected 31 points and climbed to fourth place in the RPL standings, narrowing the gap to third-placed Lokomotiv to three points. Zenit continued to lead the table, stretching their advantage to eight points. The result underscored Spartak’s offensive depth and their ability to convert opportunities into goals against strong opposition.
The post-match analysis also touched on the defensive side of the lineup. Former Spartak coach Dejan Stankovic commented that defender Babich was not fully prepared for Lokomotiv, a remark that framed the match as a test of readiness at the back as well as sharpness up front.