Matchday 17 is the most scandalous of the current RPL season. It included a fight between Guillermo Abascal and Bernard Berisha, a snowy battle between CSKA and Rostov with harsh words from Valery Karpin, Loko’s victory over Zenit and a great game in Krasnodar. As usual, at the end of the weekend, the “Championship” highlights the best footballers and draws attention to their symbolic team. This week, 10 outfield hero players (in addition to the goalkeeper) will combine in a conventional 3-5-2 formation.
Interview with one of those who saved the match between CSKA and Rostov
Exclusive
“Akinfeev looked and smiled.” Who saved the snowy match between CSKA and Rostov?
Goalkeeper: Artur Nigmatullin (Paris Nizhny Novgorod)
The Nizhny Novgorod team won a great victory by beating Ural at home (1-0). Paris NN scored the decisive goal in the 90+1 minute thanks to the efforts of defender Nikita Kakkoev. But goalkeeper Artur Nigmatullin also played an important role in the victory of the Yuran team. During the match, “Ural” threatened the opponent’s goal much more often than “Paris NN”. And Nigmatullin saved the residents of Nizhny Novgorod several times. He made four saves in total. And Paris NN scored 24 points after 17 rounds and is in the race for the top 5.
Before the match “Paris NN” – “Ural” they did not talk about football
In Nizhny they expected a scandal, but they had a brilliant ending. Everything was decided with a goal in added time
Central defender: Kirill Gotsuk (Paris Nizhny Novgorod)
Another important player for Paris NN. The Nizhny Novgorod defender played another great game and helped the team keep a clean sheet. Gotsuk won as many as 11 dogfights! Kirill had no equal. Gotsuk was included in our road team for the second time this season. And this perfectly documents the progress of the defender and his importance in Sergei Yuran’s system.
Kirill Gotsuk
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Central defender: Willian Rocha (CSKA)
CSKA beat Rostov in a snowy match. First it was the weather, not the football. However, the performance of Willian Rocha is worth highlighting. The Brazilian helped the team keep the goal intact. The defender has won five aerial duels, two tackles and a shot on Rostov’s goal. Willian did not allow Donetsk’s powerful forwards, Yegor Golenkov and Mohamed Mohebi, to bother Igor Akinfeev.
The most resounding game of the season?
“During the spring-autumn period, there will be more games on good fields.” Reaction to CSKA’s snowy match
Central defender: Georgy Harutyunyan (Krasnodar)
Harutyunyan appeared on the field for the third time this season for Krasnodar. And he showed class! “Orenburg” imposed a tenacious fight on the “bulls”, so it was difficult for the leader of the RPL. But Harutyunyan’s play helped them win. The 19-year-old has three successful tackles and an 86% pass success rate. Interestingly, in the last match Georgiy played the role of left back, replacing the injured Lucas Olasa. But Harutyunyan’s intelligent play helped Krasnodar not realize the defeat.
We explain in detail why Harutyunyan played a top-level match:
“Krasnodar” saved a rare paradox from trouble
Left midfielder: Nair Tiknizyan (Lokomotiv)
Does the RPL have its own Gareth Bale? Nair Tiknizyan is looking more and more like a lateral midfielder or even a striker, although he is more accustomed to the left flank of the defense. The Armenian footballer is useful in attack. Mikhail Galaktionov uses Nair’s abilities, adding flavor to Loko’s attack.
In the match against Zenit, Tiknizyan scored the team’s third goal. Lokomotiv played a combination in the style of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Nair easily beat Mikhail Kerzhakov. In addition, in the last match, Tiknizyan made three shots at the champion’s goal, successfully dribbled three times, took the ball twice and won twice. Lokomotiv universal soldier!
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Central midfielder: Anton Zinkovsky (Spartak)
Spartak lost in the last round to Ahmat 1:2. But Zinkovsky showed great football, he even scored the only goal for the red and whites. Anton hit the goal three times, made six successful dribbles, and also helped Spartak well in defense. And the WhoScored portal named Zinkovsky as the best player of the match, giving him a rating of 8.7.
Video rights belong to National Sports Channel LLC. You can watch the video on the Match Premier Telegram channel.
Central midfielder: Ilzat Akhmetov (Krasnodar)
The Krasnodar midfielder came on in the 64th minute and became one of the heroes of the match against Orenburg. Akhmetov is the author of the winning goal. Following a cross from Alonso in the 76th minute, Ilzat headed home a great header. He also made 87% of successful passes, made one successful dribble and took the ball twice. The midfielder spent half an hour on the field, but he was very useful. Will Akhmetov start in the next meeting?
Video rights belong to National Sports Channel LLC. You can watch the video on the Match Premier Telegram channel.
Central midfielder: Víctor Méndez (CSKA)
CSKA and Rostov were freezing and fighting in the snow. The army team turned out to be more successful and one of the heroes was a soccer player from Chile. Midfielder Víctor Méndez scored CSKA’s second goal in the 69th minute and then jumped into a snowdrift. The 24-year-old Chilean’s performance was greatly appreciated by journalists in his native land.
Victor Mendez
Photo: CSKA
What they wrote in other countries about the CSKA – Rostov match:
“Spirit demonstration!” Europe and South America delight in snow football in Russia
Right midfielder: Bernard Berisha (Akhmat)
Berisha, without a doubt, became both the hero and the antihero of the tour. The Kosovo winger made a spectacular pass to Hamid Agalarov, after which the striker scored against Spartak. And then Berisha ran to celebrate the goal… towards the rival’s technical area. So I stumbled upon an MMA-style treatment from Spartak coach Guillermo Abascal. As a result, the Spaniard was sent off, but Bernard came out with a yellow card.
Fans and media hotly discussed the timing and unfairness of the punishment. Still, Akhmat’s player behavior deserved to be removed. But Berisha took advantage of the opportunity and helped the Grozny team win. Bernard was useful on the field, creating tension in the Spartak defense.
Video rights belong to National Sports Channel LLC. You can watch the video on the Match Premier Telegram channel.
Details of the main scandal of the last rounds:
Exclusive
Abaskal threw Berisha out of provocation, Promes cursed his opponent! The heat of Spartak in Grozny
Forward: Fedor Chalov (CSKA)
Chalov is one of the top scorers in the RPL this season. In the last round, Fedor distinguished himself in the match against Rostov. In the fourth minute he scored a penalty and in the second half he assisted Víctor Méndez. Chalov is the second player in the league in terms of the goal+pass system (11, 8+3), only surpassed by Zenit’s Mateo Cassierra (14).
Fedor was included for the fourth time in the symbolic team of the “Championship” tour.
Video rights belong to National Sports Channel LLC. You can watch the video on the Match Premier Telegram channel.
Forward: Maxim Glushenkov (Lokomotiv)
Lokomotiv confidently defeated Zenit at home. The Railwaymen beat the St. Petersburg team twice this season and forward Maxim Glushenkov showed himself well in both meetings. On the last day, the forward scored a double. The first goal was especially epic: Glushenkov took the ball from a corner, after which Zenit goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov made a mistake. And in the second half, Maxim headed the ball into the St. Petersburg goal after a cross from Anton Miranchuk. A productive match from Glushenkov.
Video rights belong to National Sports Channel LLC. You can watch the video on the Match Premier Telegram channel.
Coach: Mikhail Galaktionov (Lokomotiv)
The Lokomotiv coach was disqualified for two games for statements after the game against Wings. But this did not prevent Galaktionov from preparing the team well for the match against Zenit. And during the match, the coach, who was in the stadium, communicated with the bench via phone. Then the specialist skillfully corrected the players’ actions. His contribution to Lokomotiv’s victory cannot be underestimated.
Mikhail Galaktionov
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
RPL 17th round team
A general look at the top 11 team from the last round. And by following the link you can study statistics and other interesting details.
RPL 17th round team
Who didn’t make the team?
Several players did not make our team, but they are worth mentioning. For example, goalkeepers Igor Akinfeev (CSKA), Georgy Shelia (Akhmat) and Matvey Safonov (Krasnodar), who helped their clubs win. Bulls defenseman Junior Alonso also had a great game, recording an assist. Three Krylia players showed flashes: Fernando Costanza, Benjamín Garré and Roman Yezhov. Samara confidently dealt with Sochi. Dynamo forward Konstantin Tyukavin scored a goal and gave the team the victory over Rubin. He scored for the fifth consecutive game! Artyom Dzyuba (Lokomotiv) was also useful in the meeting with his former club, Zenit. Who else, in his opinion, have we undeservedly ignored? Write in the comments!
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS