Dynamo Moscow 0-2 Spartak Moscow
Sunday 6 March, VEB Arena

Goals: Spartak - Nicholson 26', Promes 38'
Sent off: Dynamo - Varela 45+1’
Man of the Match: Quincy Promes (Spartak)

Fresh from his midweek Russian Cup hattrick, Shamar Nicholson carved his name in Derby folklore with a sniper's finish. 

He combined with Zelimkhan Bakaev and Quincy Promes to surge forward at pace, controlling a shot from the former that deflected off Saba Sazonov on his chest before volleying home from close range. 

Promes plucked an absolutely screamer out of his locker less than 10 minutes before the break, with what must surely be one of his most epic finishes. Cutting in from the left, he absolutely smashed a sensational swerving, dipping rocket perfectly into the top corner to leave the VTB Arena stunned.

Matter got even worse on the stroke of half time for the hosts when Guillermo Varela was sent off to leave Sandro Schwarz’s men in complete disarray. They had threatened sporadically, most notably when Sebastian Szymanski squandered a half chance, mis-hitting it in Fedor Smolov’s direction, only for the striker to fluff his lines under pressure.

 After the break a few players were rotated for both sides, but it was Arsen Zakharyan who came closest to dragging the hosts back into contention. His driving run and rasping shot half way through the second period grazed the wrong side of the post with Aleksandr Selikhov beaten at full stretch.

The emphatic win extends Spartak’s extraordinary run of losing just once in the last 16 league clashes against Dynamo.

Dynamo stay second on 39 points, while Spartak remain ninth on 26 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 12 March - Arsenal vs Dynamo; Sunday 13 March - Spartak vs Krasnodar