The St. Petersburg club set a new record in the history of matches against the red-and-whites, achieving the largest victory in the derby.
Zenit achieved a historic victory over Spartak in the 23rd round of the Russian Premier League. The match at Gazprom Arena ended with a humiliating 5-0 scoreline for the red-and-whites. This marks the largest victory for the Petersburg side in the derby throughout their entire history of encounters.
Sergei Semak's triumph in the derby
Zenit dominated the match from start to finish, scoring three goals in the first half and two in the second. Brazilian forward Claudinho stood out with a brace. The game was played in heavy rain, but that didn't stop the home team from showcasing brilliant combination play.
We prepared for this match especially and showed real Zenit football. Such victories remain in history.
— Сергей Семак, главный тренер Зенита
The crisis at Spartak deepens
The defeat marked Spartak's sixth loss in their last eight RPL matches. The team dropped to 9th place in the standings, casting doubt on the head coach's future. The red-and-white defense appeared extremely disorganized, conceding five goals for the first time since 2019.
This result allows Zenit to solidify their second place in the standings.