RPL Matchday 22 InStat Team of the Week

With a total of 27 goals scored across matchday 22 of the Russian Premier Liga, there were some astonishingly high InStat scores. In comes as little surprise to see five Zenit St. Petersburg players in the team of the week after their 7-1 demolition job over FC Ural Ekaterinburg.

Goalkeeper: Andrey Lunev (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Despite the fact that the goalkeeper of Zenit failed to keep a clean sheet, his actions were still considered the most productive. He managed to block five shots, and only two of his passes didn’t find their intended target. This gave him a 93% success rate, second only to Andrey Klimovich of FC Orenburg.

InStat Index: 350

Left-back: Dmitry Skopintsev (Dynamo Moscow)

Dmitry Skopintsev was the only left-back who managed to score on matchday 22. All other left-backs combined to have five shots, with only one by Akhmat Grozny’s Roland Gigolaev on target; all three of Skopintsev’s efforts hit the target. He attempted six dribbles - twice as many as any other player in his position - and was successful with four.

InStat Index: 329

Centre-back: Maksim Osipenko (FC Rostov)

Although his side conceded three goals, Maksim Osipenko still stood out for FC Rostov. He made two successful key passes and attempted 20 challenges - only five centre-backs attempted more. His total of 14 successfully collected loose balls was the third-highest among centre-backs.

InStat Index: 329

Centre-back: Igor Diveev (CSKA Moscow)

Igor Diveev stood out for making three penetrating passes into the opponent's penalty area, an unusually high number for his position. Although his attacking teammates failed to breach his former side’s defence, Diveev laid a solid platform by reclaiming possession 16 times by collecting 11 loose balls and making five interceptions.

InStat Index: 307

Right-back: Vladislav Ignatyev (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Ignatiev was a critical part of Lokomotiv Moscow’s efforts to keep FC Rostov at bay by making by far the most challenges (22) among right-backs this matchday. He won all five of his aerial challenges, and regained possession the joint-most number of times in his position (14). He was useful in attack too, with no other right-back collecting more loose balls in the opposition half.

InStat Index: 318

Defensive midfield: Grzegorz Krychowiak (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Krychowiak was directly involved in all three of Lokomotiv's goals; his long range effort cannoned back off Sergey Pesyakov’s head into the net, he assisted Rifat Zhemaletdinov and scored the third. He drew five fouls - more than any other defensive midfielder - while no other player in his position was successful in more challenges or won back possession through interceptions and reclaimed loose balls.

InStat Index: 380

Left wing: Sebastian Driussi (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Not only did Driussi score in the 7-1 rout of FC Ural Ekaterinburg, but all five of his shots were on target. The Argentine played more key passes (6) and passes into the penalty area (11) than any other left winger, and completed four of his five dribbles.

InStat Index: 433

Right wing: Malcom (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Malcom scored his first goal for Zenit as well as making an assist. The Brazilian could perhaps have scored more as he also had four shots on target. His passing was also the best of all right wingers: of his 50 passes, 90% were accurate.

InStat Index: 495

Attacking midfield: Maximilian Philipp (Dynamo Moscow)

Philipp earned his Man-of-the-Match award primarily for scoring a goal with his only shot on target and making an assist. He also made two accurate passes to the penalty area and five dribbles, while he misplaced just three of his passes.

InStat Index: 375

Forward: Artem Dzyuba (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Artem Dzyuba scored twice against FC Ural Ekaterinburg to take him two goals clear at the top of the RPL goalscorers’ charts. In total, Dzyuba had eight shots, of which three were on target. He also registered the most key passes, completed more dribbles than any other forward. Only Aleksandr Sobolev won more challenges, but the Spartak Moscow man attempted almost twice as many as Dzyuba.

InStat Index: 463

Forward: Sardar Azmoun (Zenit St. Petersburg)

The Iranian striker scored a hat-trick for the first time in the RPL. Just like Dzyuba, Azmoun had eight shots on goal, but with much higher accuracy; seven of his were on target, compared to only three of Dzyuba’s. He was second only to Dzyuba in key passes and passes into the penalty area.

InStat Index: 438