Source: RIA “Novosti”
Zenit is in second place in the RPL standings, gaining 36 points in 18 matches, Spartak is in fifth place, with 30 points. In the first round, Zenit beat the capital club with a score of 3:1. In total, the teams played 59 matches among themselves in the RPL, 25 of which ended in victory for St. Petersburg and 18 for Muscovites. The last time Spartak beat Zenit in the RPL was in 2017 (3:1), while in 2022 the red and white won the group stage match of the “RPL path” Fonbet – Russian Cup (3:0).
The match between Zenit and Spartak will start at 19:30 Moscow time.
Lack of Promes
The main topic of discussion before the match was not the tournament schedule, possible plans and ideas of the teams for the game, but the absence of the Dutch Spartak striker Quincy Promes. On February 29, the red and white flew from the UAE, where the pre-season training camp was held, but Promes was unable to arrive in Russia. Later, the Dubai police told TASS that the football player was detained and taken to the Al Khawanij police station.
According to a TASS source in local security authorities, at the time of Promes’ arrival in Dubai, the footballer was under an Interpol “blue” notice, which involves collecting additional information about the identity, location or activities of a person in connection with a criminal investigation. After the Dutch court ruled in the Promes case, the notification status changed to “red”, which gives the authorities of a particular country grounds to arrest a fugitive from justice.
On February 14, the Amsterdam District Court found Promes guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced him to six years in prison. The prosecution demanded a nine-year sentence for the player; Promes himself was not present at the hearing. Later, the forward was put on the international wanted list. The footballer’s lawyers filed an appeal against the decision to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. Another case against Promes is also pending in the appeal court – an attack on a cousin with a knife. On June 19, 2023, the Amsterdam District Court found the football player guilty, sentenced him to one and a half years in prison and ordered him to pay compensation to a relative.
According to Alexander Mostovoy, two-time USSR champion with Spartak, the loss of Promes could affect the team’s performance. “It’s clear that this is not critical, after all, our championship can be pulled out somehow. But the loss is significant; people like him cannot be replaced,” Mostovoy told TASS. — Especially now, when Spartak looked good at the training camp. It’s hard to say whether it will affect the results of “Spartak” or not, after all, besides Promes, there are 25 more people, but this is our championship, maybe it’s okay.”
Promes is 32 years old, this season he played 21 matches in various tournaments, scored 8 goals and gave 8 assists.
CSKA will host Orenburg, Krasnodar will play with Rubin
In the first match of the game day, CSKA Moscow will host Orenburg. CSKA is in eighth position in the RPL standings, with 28 points, while Orenburg, with 15 points, is in 14th place.
This season, the teams met three times, twice in the group stage of the “RPL path” of the Russian Cup and once in the RPL. The army team won two out of three matches, one meeting ended in a draw. The match will start at 14:00 Moscow time.
Championship leader Krasnodar will also play on Saturday, and will meet Rubin Kazan at home. At the moment, Krasnodar has 38 points, Rubin has 28, Kazan is in seventh place. In the first round, the match ended with a score of 2:0 in favor of the RPL leader. The meeting will begin at 16:30 Moscow time.
At 19:00 Moscow time the match starts in Grozny between the local Akhmat and the Yekaterinburg Ural. The teams occupy neighboring places in the standings, Ural is 12th with 19 points, Akhmat is 13th with 17 points. In the first round, Akhmat beat Ural with a score of 1:0.
2024-03-02 00:55:38
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