Spartak Moscow secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over city rivals CSKA in the final match of the Path of Regions stage of the Fonbet Russian Cup for the 2025/2026 season. The derby took place at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow, with Spartak emerging victorious in a tightly contested encounter.
Following the win, Spartak's official Telegram channel shared a celebratory post featuring a photo with the caption: "Was! Is! And will be!" The message served as a bold declaration of the club's enduring dominance in this particular fixture, highlighting their historical success against their Moscow counterparts.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Spartak, as they have not lost to CSKA in this tournament since May 11, 2011. That previous meeting occurred during the semifinal stage, where the match ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw after regular and extra time. CSKA ultimately prevailed in the penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to advance.
With this result, Spartak now advances to the final of the Russian Cup, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal between Krasnodar and Dynamo Moscow. The upcoming final promises to be another exciting chapter in Russian football's premier cup competition.
It is worth noting that CSKA enters this tournament as the defending champions. In last season's final, the army club defeated Rostov to claim the trophy. That match also ended goalless after regular time, with CSKA winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3 to secure the championship.
The match at Lukoil Arena showcased the intense rivalry between Moscow's two most prominent football clubs. Spartak's ability to overcome their city neighbors in such a high-stakes encounter demonstrates the competitive nature of Russian domestic football and the significance of cup competitions in the national sporting calendar.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.