Matchday 12 Review: Azmoun & Dzyuba record-equalling tallies, Flawless Poloz, Zakharyan’s youngest hat-trick of assists

We have looked back over the matchday 12 fixtures in the Russian Premier Liga to bring you the key stats and figures.

3 - Arsen Zakharyan continues to sparkle, and this week in particular was one of his brightest showings, as he had a direct hand in three chances. His hat-trick of assists put him top of assist charts, and made him the youngest player to achieve the single-game feat in over a decade, beating Alan Dzagoev by three years of age (21 when he set up three goals in 2011 vs Spartak Nalchik).

4 - Fedor Chalov has now had a direct hand in four goals (three goals & 1 assist) in his last four substitute appearances, having had none in his previous 10. His strike helped seal a late win against in-form Krylia Sovetov and lift the Armymen up into third place.

5 - Rostov were given an almighty confidence boost by their heaviest win of the season as they swatted Arsenal Tula aside with ease. One of the key reason for the success was their set-piece prowess; the third goal was struck from instinctive positioning in the box after a well hit corner, making it their fifth goal from corners this season - the joint-highest amount in the league.

7 - Spartak suffered their heaviest ever league defeat by conceding seven goals. They had never let in more than five in the RPL era, and never in their history more than six - even including in Soviet leagues.

7 - Sardar Azmoun struck twice, and it hardly came as a surprise that both were trademark thumping headers. The Iranian has now racked up seven headed RPL goals since the start of last season, more than any other player. Yaroslav Rakitsky supplied both of Azmoun’s goals from his pinpoint left foot, taking him up to four RPL assists this season - only Arsen Zakharyan has provided more.

10 - Gamid Agalarov continued his sensational season with his 10th goal of the RPL campaign. Not only is he running away with the top goalscorer race - standing three clear of his nearest challenger, Sardar Azmoun - but he has contributed all but two of his team’s goals (80%). He has also already equalled the club record individual goal tally set by all-time top scorer Sylvester Igboun in 2018/19, when the Nigerian hit nine in regular season games and one more in the relegation playoffs.

11 - Zenit answered any lingering doubts in emphatic fashion by turning in a blistering performance against their rivals Spartak Moscow. Not only did they retake the lead in the RPL standings, as well as end their two-game losing streak, they also extended their impressive unbeaten run at home against the Red-Whites to 11 games.

12 - Dmitry Poloz extended his proud record of never having missed a penalty in the RPL. In fact, not has he not missed, he has the longest run of 100% penalty success with 12 out of 12 converted. To celebrate his goal that made up part of Rostov’s 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal, he was also called up to Russia’s extended squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

85 - With his double in the romp against Spartak, Sardar Azmoun pulled level with the legendary Brazilian striker Vagner Love as the joint-highest scoring foreigner in RPL history on 85 goals. Azmoun has achieved the tally in 203 RPL matches compared to Vagrner’s 169 appearances, but will almost certainly take a healthy lead by the end of this season.

143 - Artem Dzyuba is on the verge of the ultimate striker’s history after netting a penalty in the rout of Spartak. The spot kick moved him on to 143 Russian top-flight goals, level with Oleg Veretennikov, as the joint-highest scorer in the history of the Russian Championship.