Spartak eye season-ending win
Newly-crowned Russian champions Spartak Moscow look set to finish the domestic season in winning style when they visit lowly Arsenal Tula today. Spartak, who top the league on 69 points, 10 clear of second-placed city rivals CSKA, are trying to equal the Russian league record of 72 points which they themselves set in 1999.
The Muscovites look clear favorites against Arsenal, who are second from bottom, but the Tula outfit desperately needs to win to keep alive their slim chances of avoiding relegation. Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said he expecting a hard match in Tula adding that he wanted his team to bag all three points anyway. “Of course the match will be tough,” he told Russian TV. “Arsenal desperately need points and they have nothing to lose. But our goal remains the same - to reach 72 points. Hopefully, we will manage to do that.”
CSKA Moscow, who hope to win a place in next season’s Champions League third qualifying round, are also set to add three points to their balance in the match with Anzhi Makhachkala, who are themselves two points above the relegation play-off zone.The Red Army side’s Brazilian midfielder Vitinho said he and his teammates were ready for a difficult encounter adding that he believed in CSKA’s ability to secure their top-two finish.
“It’s a very important match for both clubs. No doubts it will be a difficult game,” Vitinho told CSKA’s official site. “CSKA are in a good position. Our fate is in our own hands. We just need to win. I believe we will achieve the desired result.” Meanwhile, third-placed Zenit, who are one point adrift of CSKA, will have to pass a stern test on Sunday when they visit two-time former champions Lokomotiv Moscow. But Zenit head coach Mircea Lucescu said he has set his men to win in Moscow. “The championship is not over yet and I know that everything is possible in football,” Zenit press service quoted Lucescu as saying. “CSKA can drop points in the match with Anzhi, who need points to avoid the relegation play-offs. Meanwhile, we must prepare the best possible way for the seasonending match and win it.”