Spartak had an almost optimal lineup for the game. Abascal finally got it right with his choice. Moses is the only one who fell out of the Muscovites’ pattern of play. It could have been changed immediately after the break.

A balanced lineup helped the “red-whites” maintain the initiative throughout the game. The guests created virtually nothing at the opponents’ goal. Sochi has lost a lot, even compared to last season. The team was crippled by injuries to players who determine the game from the front.

Only good defense kept the southerners in the game. An experienced defensive line repelled constant attacks from opponents until the last minutes. But then chance intervened. The loss of Ivan Drkusic was fatal for Khokhlov’s team. Due to the lack of replacements, the Sochi team had to finish the match with a minority. And then the substitutions helped Spartak.

The fresh players of the Moscow team pressed Sochi against their own goal, forcing them to defend a lot without the ball. Zinkovsky and Ryabchuk just took part in the scoring attack. The Sochi team lacked Drkusic at this point. Noboa, who found himself in his place, was unable to neutralize the dangerous moment. Spartak literally pushed the ball into the goal.

This goal was a long time coming. The Sochi players pressed too hard into the penalty area at the end, which is why the opponents created many killer chances. It’s good that Zabolotny came to the rescue at the last turn.

Babich is a good defender with an excellent scoring instinct. He felt in time that he needed to join the attack. This led to the defender’s second goal for Spartak.

Victory is very important for Spartak. Even a draw was comparable to a defeat. The team was already far away in the standings, and another loss of points would have complicated the position of the “red-whites” in the championship even more.

Talk about the departure of the Muscovites’ head coach will subside for some time, but it is too early for Abascal to relax. Spartak has a difficult calendar ahead. A tight schedule, in which there are two away games – with PARIS NN in the Cup and with Krylia Sovetov in the championship. Between them is a home game with Dynamo, but anything can happen in the Moscow derby.

If Spartak does not score four points in two championship games, then we can consider that it deservedly takes its place in the middle of the standings. In case of two defeats, Abascal’s fate will be decided. At the same time, it is far from a fact that the unstable Spartak will be able to cope with the task of gaining points.

Clouds are also gathering over Khokhlov. The team has not scored points for three matches in a row. It is unclear whether the coach will remain for one more match or whether he will be removed. But here everything is not so obvious. The team has big problems with its roster and field. Perhaps the management won’t cut loose.