Spartak vs CSKA: hotter than Old Firm derby

By: Ivan | February 16th, 2007

Banner Russian Premier League isn’t one of the greatest in Europe but we have something special down here. Nine hours flights for away games, three home stadiums for one team, 7 teams from Moscow region out of 16 and especially no any chance for football on Christmas.

And a trendy hot clash. Moscow derby: Spartak vs CSKA.

Spartak was big in 90’s and gained nationwide affection like Juventus in Italy. But in XXI century CSKA won the Premier League three times and got UEFA Cup in 2005. It happened because of financial touch of Roman Abramovich and great management by CSKA boss Evgeniy Giner.

So Spartak can’t beat CSKA for more than 5 years (banner on photo saying “Hello to participants of five-year plan” meaning Spartak’ presidents and managers). But they got possibilities. The greatest rivals in modern Russian football meet often than Rangers and Celtic. This season they’ll do it at least four times (First Channel cup, Russian Supercup and two PL matches) and probably two more (Cup of Russia and UEFA cup).

The 1st round of hot derby was First Channel cup final in Israel on 1th February. CSKA won again – 3:2 in extra time, thanks to last minute header by Jo. But the real intrigue was the goal by Spartak’ Roman Pavlyuchenko, last season top scorer. He drove it into the net with his hand, making dumb-ass out of Viktor Gusev, well-known TV pundit.

Gusev tried to be correct as usual, crying “It was leg… oh, it was hip!” but Pavlyuchenko ruined his ethic by spitting to media: “I scored with my hand”. By the way, he isn’t the only Spartak’ player who can score using his non-football organs.

Watch video below and you can hear as sneaky Gusev repeatedly saying “no-goo” (means leg) and then “bed-ro” (hip). But it’s evident as hell and no one ever forget it. The derby continues.