Moscow rain and Staver's mistake: what prevented Rubin from taking points away in the match against Loko

      The RPL matchday 10 encounter between Lokomotiv and Rubin finished 1–0.

      Not a very interesting or eventful game between Lokomotiv and Rubin

      This week Moscow was hit by heavy precipitation. The remnants of Indian summer abruptly gave way to rain and cold winds. On the Saturday of the Lokomotiv–Rubin match, the Russian capital was in a constant state of drizzle. Although the meeting was unofficially regarded as the centerpiece of RPL round 10 and promised to be eventful, it was possible that there would be more fighting than actual football.

      By matchday 10 Lokomotiv had not yet suffered a defeat in the league and was rightly considered the favorite against Rubin. The Railwaymen were to face the Kazan side without Zelimkhan Bakaev — the midfielder received a red card last week in the game against Makhachkala’s Dynamo (1–1). Mikhail Galaktionov decided to start Artem Karpukas in his place. Together with Dmitry Barinov and Danil Prutsev they anchored the midfield.

      Rubin played in their customary 5-3-2 formation. The main question ahead of the Lokomotiv game was whether Rashid Rakhimov would risk starting new signing Daler Kuzyaev. The midfielder had only joined the Kazan club last week. Of course, Rubin’s coaching staff might have had questions about Kuzyaev’s fitness, but the player has so much skill and experience that one can overlook any lack of match sharpness.

      In the end, Daler only appeared in the match against Lokomotiv in the second half. From the first minute Rubin’s central midfield featured the classic trio — Ivu, Khodja, and Yochich. The great advantage of that combination is that all three are powerfully built players capable of covering a lot of high-speed ground. But they clearly lack creative potential.

      Bringing Daler Kuzyaev on for Veldin Hodja spoke volumes about Rakhimov’s dissatisfaction with how the team had been acting in transitional phases of attack. Mirlind Daku and Jacques Sive were eagerly awaiting dangerous moments in attack, but often the ball simply never reached them. Lokomotiv’s possession in the first half was around 70%, and when the Railwaymen lost the ball they managed to get back quickly and did not allow Rubin to spring fast counters.

      “In the transitional phases, especially in the first half, we slowed down the transition to attack a lot, allowed the opponent to press us and conceded counterattacks,” Rubin’s head coach commented on his substitution decisions at the post-match press conference.

      The match was decided by Staver’s unfortunate mistake

      On the whole, neither the first nor the second half were entertaining to watch. The soaking pitch at RZD Arena significantly increased the number of errors the teams made while organizing attacks. There was no question of elegance or clever ideas from the players. At one point the teams descended into exceptional simplicity and primitiveness. It felt as if by the middle of the second half both sides had resigned themselves to a draw.

      The outcome of the match was decided by a crude mistake from Rubin goalkeeper Evgeny Staver. A not particularly powerful but well-struck and compact shot from Lokomotiv captain Dmitry Barinov near the penalty area in the 78th minute was something the Kazan keeper tried to gather and hold. Here the September drizzle played its part — the ball treacherously slipped under the Rubin keeper’s arm.

      Since joining the Kazan club in the summer of 2024, Evgeny, it seems, had not made a single glaring, costly error. Rarely during last season, and this one, could the Rubin goalkeeper be accused of poor play. But yesterday, unfortunately for Staver, it was his careless action that led to Rubin leaving Moscow with zero points.

      In the remaining time the Kazan side had chances to equalize. On the 84th minute they even did so through Dardan Shabanhadjaj’s effort, but the Austrian striker was in an offside position before Arroyo’s cross.

      Rubin’s next RPL match is against Krylya Sovetov in early October. The table is so tight right now that even with only one point from the last two games Rashid Rakhimov’s side are just five points behind the leaders (now Lokomotiv and Krasnodar).

      In recent weeks the Kazan club finished their transfer window strongly. Kuzyaev, Shvets, Arroyo, and Sive arrived. Rubin has strengthened internal competition within the squad. Has the “step forward” Rakhimov spoke about so often last season finally arrived?

      Photo: rubin-kazan.ru

      More news about the event:

      Rashid Rakhimov assessed Daler Kuzyaev’s debut in the match against Lokomotiv

      Rubin head coach Rashid Rakhimov evaluated the debut of his new signing Daler Kuzyaev after the match with Lokomotiv (0:1). 09:37 28.09.2025 IA Tatar-inform – Kazan

      Moscow rain and Staver’s mistake: what prevented Rubin from taking points in the match with Loko

      The RPL matchday 10 game between Lokomotiv and Rubin ended 1–0

      Not a very interesting or eventful match between Lokomotiv and Rubin

      This week Moscow was hit by heavy precipitation. 08:40 28.09.2025 IA Tatar-inform – Kazan

      A far-reaching defeat: Rubin lost to Lokomotiv and became a midtable side again

      Rakhimov’s team are already ninth in the RPL table

      Photo: taken from rubin-kazan.ru

      Rubin again failed to win away; this time the team lost in Moscow to Lokomotiv 0:1. 00:13 28.09.2025 Realnoye Vremya – Kazan

      Rakhimov on Staver’s mistake in the match with Lokomotiv: “an unpleasant moment for us”

      Rubin’s head coach Rashid Rakhimov spoke about goalkeeper Evgeny Staver’s error in the round 10 match against Lokomotiv (0:1). 19:48 27.09.2025 Business Online – Kazan

      Rubin lost to Lokomotiv. The Kazan side have one away win in 2025

      In the RPL round 10 match Rubin lost to Lokomotiv (0:1).

      In the first half the teams did not score and did not create dangerous chances. 19:00 27.09.2025 Business Online – Kazan

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