Football expert Valeriy Nepomnyashchiy shared his thoughts on the draw between "Spartak" and "Zenit" in an exclusive interview with the "Euro-Football.Ru" website. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
According to him, the quality of the game between evenly matched teams may not always be high because there is strong tension and pressure in the match. Nevertheless, he emphasized that especially the performance of the "Spartak" team was good.
The "red and whites" are playing at their level, but luck did not favor them. He also mentioned that a "Zenit" player had the opportunity to score when the opponents were fewer in number.
This indicates that the team has mental strength. Nepomnyashchiy noted that both teams made mistakes and that it is difficult to play without errors in such matches.
Due to the tension, especially in the derby between "Spartak" and "Zenit," new players have not yet fully adapted and have not completely understood the essence of the game. Regarding Santos's expulsion from the field, the expert said that it is necessary to distinguish between the rules and the spirit of the game, and sometimes, even if the rules are strict, it is important to conduct the game fairly.
He stated that the "Zenit" team struggled after the opponent changed tactics, and adapting to the new regime is not easy. He also emphasized that the mental state of "Spartak" was stronger than that of "Zenit," and that "Zenit" players sometimes weakened under pressure.
While "Spartak" stood out with quick actions and activity in the game, "Zenit" was dominated by a more academic style. Speaking about the team players, Nepomnyashchiy said that Jhedson's performance was at a high level and that he was fulfilling all tasks with quality.
At the same time, he noted that Luis Enrique's lack of visibility on the field was mysterious. He also touched on the penalty situation, stating that the hand movements there were against the rules and that such situations should not be allowed.
Overall, the game was interesting and uncompromising, but the lack of luck for both sides affected the result.
