The champion will play against a convenient opponent.
Semak gets into the heads of rivals
Whenever we hear how Zenith’s next rival enters RPL talks about how he will score points away: the formal coach of Lokomotiv Zinnbauer did just that. Malcolm ignited the fantasy and called the Classic game. There are so many words, and then every time the Petersburgers win at home. In 2022, they have seven games at the Gazprom Arena’s RPL and seven wins. There was also success in the quarter-finals of the Russian Cup against KAMAZ, and they also defeated Spartak at home in the Super Cup.
Alania’s defeat on penalties took place away from home, where Semak loses points more often. Of all the opponents since the beginning of the year, only one coach has managed to understand Zenit away: an expert Manuel Pellegrini. Betis scored three goals, goals from Dzyuba and Malcolm did not change anything for the result of the European Cup match. Science for Lokomotiv: the Spaniards scored a brace in the eighteenth minute. But “Wings of the Soviet” missed twice to the twelfth from “Zenith”, because Osinkin decided to remain himself.
Semak convinced national opponents of two things. The first is that the Zenit is unbeatable at home, exceptions are extremely rare, like the success of the Rubin. The second – regardless of whether the opponent fits the champions or not, Sergei Bogdanovich is one step ahead. And this is where the current Lokomotiv Compper coach must be afraid. His team has many disadvantages and there is a direct connection with Nikolic and Gisdol’s teams, many diseases have not been treated for a long time.
The Zenit coach learns from his colleagues
Like Cherchesov from his successful international career, Zenit love to borrow other people’s ideas RPL. Semak has used things not invented by him so many times that he can easily consider himself a postmodern. This is what many mentors do, because tactical moves are not copyrighted. Zenit used to sit deep, but now have a different line of defense, high pressure. Azmun and Dzyuba moved differently from Brazilians Sergeev and Cassierra.
Rostov successfully put pressure on Lokomotiv: they could have won, as in the case of the match against Dinamo, but with no luck. And where Karpin’s team lacks class, Zenit has a roster of Latin Americans. Arshavin for now kicked out of the club show the class. Do we have to play sideways so that Zhivoglyadov and Tiknizyan don’t go on offense? Sutormin and Douglas will carry out such an order, today we can see sheds on Cassierra or Sergeev. In addition, Galaktionov, although Pari NN played for an hour in the minority, managed to make 1 in 2 shots towards Khudyakov’s goal.
“Zenith” and so also knows how. And an important feature of the current Lokomotiv is that they let them pass out of nowhere. So it was in the spring, the mistakes of a young goalkeeper or an expert Guilherme, a young Mamassi or an expert Barely remain with them, the point is no longer in the composition, but in the game model. Lokomotiv Chorluka worked differently in defense. The team competed with Zenit in a modest xG rival. And last season, the Muscovites admitted as “Pari NN” (then still “Nizhny Novgorod”). Lokomotiv rivals have had more chances than relegated Ufa.
He scored 9 goals against the railroad
In their last two matches in St. Petersburg, Zenit have won 3: 1 and 6: 1. In addition, Lokomotiv’s composition for the defeat a year ago included Chorluka, Pablo, Rybus, Krykhovyak, Zhemaletdinov and Smolov. The base of “Zenith” has also changed significantly. There will be no Dzyuba, Azmun, Lunev, Rakitsky, Karavaev and Kuzyaev due to injury. But Semak had interesting players and Compper had a push in the face of the young and unstable.
In addition, with a score of 3: 0, the Petersburgers won in Kaliningrad in the Super Cup duel. Total advantage alternates with away draws, but this is a characteristic of Semak’s team: the away syndrome is evident, nothing can be done about it. We could lose to Khimki, but at home it’s like a different team. The tribune factor has always helped, even if there is no organized support now. It could have an impact in the future. If Lokomotiv scores first with the help of Kirk, Isidore and Camano, it will be interesting.
But one hit doesn’t change much. Krasnodar scored two away goals and conceded another goal. “Zenith” has overwhelmed everyone, because he is more powerful than his opponents. Dynamo Schwartz did not play badly against Semak last fall. They just conceded quickly and the opponent returned Fomin’s return ball with three hits. Semak knows that Zenit are far from ideal in defense – and there is no great goalkeeper and Lovren and Rodrigao have not played. But everything is offset by the strength of the attack.
Lokomotiv lacks balance
Semak’s tasks are often simplified by the unpreparedness of his opponents. The Khimki are good, but not good enough to realize all their possibilities. “Wings of the Soviets” sounds wonderful in Samara, but when we went to visit them, they themselves had problems. Sergei Bogdanovich has a fertile period. In the middle of the defense, Lovren wants to play football, but if the Croatian gives in to Chistyakov in preparation, Dmitry will stand next to Rodrigao.
They saved Barrios and Wendel: two defeats could cancel the plans for the season, because it is thanks to these two players and Santos in the role of “first term”, Semak so easily obtains champion titles. Bakaev appeared, Mostovoy did not lose motivation. Both of these players have understood Brazilians since Zenit’s founding. Claudinho’s muscle injury doesn’t stop the Petersburgers from looking forward with confidence. Also, Sergeev and Cassierra will sooner or later play a great match RPL new season.
Semak didn’t show his best, but he defeated the Wings of the Soviet and can beat Lokomotiv. Except that the panic at the gates of Guilherme or Khudyakov is not worth it, nor the errors in the implementation of the new four-man attack, where Kamano and Miranchuk are back, to relaunch the absolute. Lokomotiv is better than its results. Edvay and Magkeev can play normally in a game taken, even if the defeat of the young Brazilian Fasson upsets, without talent defender. Maradishvili and Barinov are an interesting combination in midfield. Miranchuk is experienced and Isidor is even too talented for Lokomotiv.
The decision to release Beck-Beck is a signal to Kerk, Isodor or Barinov himself that Zorn is sure to accept good offers. With a new strategy, it will be difficult for Lokomotiv to build a team for awards, but Compper has not found a balance, so the best football played by this particular team has not been seen. Moscow fans should fear that their team has conceded twice as many Zenit goals in their last ten games. But at the same time, they famously attacked both with Zhemaletdinov and without him.
Lokomotiv are nervous, because the team has doubts about what will happen next? There aren’t many interesting legionaries left and the Russians are rather unclaimed. It is unlikely that Anton Miranchuk would have received a contract at Zenit now, as he could have been offered earlier. But the player isn’t old and skilled, so Sutormin shouldn’t relax, like Lovren. Miranchuk, Kerk, Zhivoglyadov and Isidor are happy with the last step in the new season. For the Zenit almost all rivals RPL comfortable, especially at home, so it’s hard to believe the champion’s first defeat in the championship of the year.
But at the start of the season, Semak is easier to catch. German duet It’s time for Lokomotiv to show up, because she didn’t beat Galaktionov and Karpin.
