Valery Gladilin, a former footballer who later coached Spartak Moscow, offered an optimistic yet measured view on the team’s tournament prospects when nine weeks remained in the Russian Premier League season. He noted that, while Zenit remains the clear pace-setter, Spartak could press for the runner-up position, currently sitting roughly ten points behind the leaders. The takeaway was not a guarantee but a realistic pathway: if the Moscow club maintains momentum, the gap could narrow enough to make a compelling challenge feasible rather than a distant dream.
Securing second place is within reach, he argued, especially since Rostov has shown signs of vulnerability. The Rostov squad has displayed inconsistency and faced injuries that could hamper their momentum, leaving Spartak with a tangible opening. If Spartak keeps collecting points in the upcoming fixtures, the door to a higher finish could swing in their favor, turning a distant target into a concrete possibility rather than a theoretical one. This scenario underscores the importance of steady performances across the next matches and the ability to convert chances into results, even amidst a crowded table.
At this stage of the season, Spartak has accumulated 41 points from 21 rounds, placing them in third position in the standings. Rostov sits level on points, but their overall position is not yet settled because they have a game in hand and will confront a demanding schedule. The Rostov squad is slated to host one of the league’s contending teams, Torpedo, in a pivotal match that could influence the late-season balance of power and shape the run-in for both teams as the campaign approaches the final stretch.
Earlier remarks from Gladilin linked Spartak’s recent misfortunes to the absence of their leading figure, whose injury disrupted key avenues of attack and organization on the field. With that issue now contextualized within the broader season dynamics, the focus has shifted toward how the squad adapts and rebuilds around available depth. The veteran analyst emphasized the need for resilience, continuity, and tactical flexibility as the squad navigates a demanding schedule and pursues a higher finish in the final weeks of the league.