In a recent Russian championship clash held in Moscow, football guard and trainer Pavel Stipidi faced Paraguayan defender Alexis Duarte from Spartak Moscow in the fifth round. The match ended with Stipidi’s team edging past Duarte’s, as reported by Euro-Football.Ru.
Stipidi did not mince words about Duarte, labeling him as a player who often avoids the toughest duties. He pointed out that some teammates, including Litvinov and Prutsev, spent long stretches on the bench, while Ignatov managed to break through and make an impact during the game.
Stipidi also spoke about the defensive pairing and Jikia’s position in central defense. He noted that sometimes Jikia aligned with Litvinov, other times with Duarte, and stressed that Spartak will need a more robust lineup if they aim to compete with Zenit. With the current coaching approach and on-field performance, he cast doubt on Spartak’s ability to challenge Zenit in upcoming fixtures.
At 23 years old, the South American had joined Spartak from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño in January, a move that had raised expectations among supporters and analysts about his adaptation to European football.
In a recent Moscow encounter, Zenit defeated Spartak 3-1. Wendel, the Brazilian midfielder, delivered a decisive performance with a brace, while Mateo Cassierra, the Colombian forward, added another goal for the visitors. Alexander Sobolev converted a penalty for the Reds and Whites, contributing to Zenit’s victory and their position in the standings.
Zenit now sits in the upper tier of the table with ten points, climbing to fourth place, while Spartak trails in sixth with nine points. The upcoming rounds will bring Spartak back to Moscow for a showdown with Grozny Akhmat, while Zenit faces a high-profile match against Yekaterinburg Ural, a team positioned among the league leaders.
In the broader context, a veteran of CSKA criticized a foreign player who moved to Spartak, suggesting that the player’s greed and decision to switch clubs had influenced team dynamics and expectations. The conversation highlighted ongoing debates within Russian football about player movement, formative development, and the balance between talent and club loyalties.