RPL Matchday 8
Spartak Moscow 1-2 Zenit St. Petersburg
Sunday 4 September, Otkrytie Bank Arena, Moscow

Goals: Spartak – Sobolev (21); Zenit – Lovren (48), Mostovoy (60)
Man of the Match: Andrey Mostovoy (Zenit)

The biggest match of the week took place at Spartak home stadium, as the Red-Whites battled against Zenit for the first place in the RPL standings. Despite the visitors had most possession and attempts, Spartak got the first goal in the meeting, when Aleksandr Sobolev caught the pass from Christopher Martins Pereira and smashed the ball into the net, the best league assistant scored only the second goal this season. Zenit attacks became more and more dangerous, Andrey Mostovoy had three attempts to score, and Malcom missed the great chance sending the ball high from close distance.

As it happened in most games, Zenit capitalized its advantage after the break. Firstly Dejan Lovren, who could not prevent Sobolev to score, shoot the ball after the corner kick between the legs of Aleksandr Maksimenko. Then active Mostovoy gave his team the lead with good shot into the right corner, so Andrey tied Malcom, his goal assistant, as Zenit top scorers in the league with four goals. Biggest chance to escape with a draw came to Spartak in the end, when Quincy Promes tried to score from the box, but Mikhail Kerzhakov denied.

Zenit continue their lead reaching 20 points, while Spartak move to fifth on 16 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Sunday 11 September – Zenit vs Orenburg; Rostov vs Spartak