Spartak drop points ahead of Liverpool visit

AFP, MOSCOW: Spartak Moscow's Russian Premier League title defence suffered another setback on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by bottom club Anzhi Makhachkala.

Brazilian Luiz Adriano put Spartak ahead, but Anzhi hit back with goals from Slovenian defender Miral Samardzic and midfielder Adlan Katsayev.

Paraguayan forward Lorenzo Melgarejo rescued a point in injury time, but the capital-city side have now won only two of their last eight league games ahead of the visit of Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The champions are now eighth, ten points behind league leaders Zenit St Petersburg, who visit Krasnodar on Sunday.

“It's become a kind of deplorable tradition,” Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said.

“Again we led and could have easily brought the match to a winning end, but our own mistakes prevented us from doing that. It's absolutely unacceptable.”

Spartak, who were without injured Dutchman Quincy Promes, got off to a lively start through Adriano, who opened the scoring with a penalty on 14 minutes. The hosts dominated but squandered a hatful of chances and Anzhi made them pay for their wastefulness.

Samardzic levelled in the 74th minute when he headed Arsen Khubulov's pass home from close range.

Spartak drop points ahead of Liverpool visit

AFP, MOSCOW: Spartak Moscows Russian Premier League title defence suffered another setback on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by bottom club Anzhi Makhachkala. Brazilian Luiz Adriano put Spartak ahead, but Anzhi hit back with goals from Slovenian defender Miral Samardzic and midfielder Adlan Katsayev. Paraguayan forward Lorenzo Melgarejo rescued a point in injury time, but the capital-city side have now won only two of their last eight league games ahead of the visit of Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday. The champions are now eighth, ten points behind league leaders Zenit St Petersburg, who visit Krasnodar on Sunday. Its become a kind of deplorable tradition, Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said. Again we led and could have easily brought the match to a winning end, but our own mistakes prevented us from doing that. Its absolutely unacceptable. Spartak, who were without injured Dutchman Quincy Promes, got off to a lively start through Adriano, who opened the scoring with a penalty on 14 minutes. The hosts dominated but squandered a hatful of chances and Anzhi made them pay for their wastefulness. Samardzic levelled in the 74th minute when he headed Arsen Khubulovs pass home from close range.