Spartak Moscow's passionate fanbase made their presence felt in a big way ahead of the club's crucial Russian Cup final showdown against city rivals CSKA. The supporters organized a special performance to rally behind their team as they prepare for one of the season's most significant matches.
The highly anticipated derby will take place at Moscow's Lukoil Arena, serving as the final match of the regional path in the Fonbet Russian Cup for the 2025/2026 campaign. This encounter represents a major opportunity for both Moscow giants to claim silverware.
Spartak earned their place in this final after a dramatic victory over Zenit Saint Petersburg in the previous round. The match ended 0-0 after regular time, with Spartak advancing through a tense penalty shootout that concluded 7-6 in their favor.
CSKA, meanwhile, secured their spot with a convincing 5-2 victory over Krylya Sovetov. The army club demonstrated their attacking prowess in that semifinal encounter, setting up what promises to be an exciting final between two of Russian football's traditional powerhouses.
The Russian Cup final will feature two separate paths this season. While Spartak and CSKA battle in the regional path final, the RPL path final will see Moscow's Dynamo face Krasnodar. Their first leg encounter ended in a goalless draw, leaving everything to play for in the return fixture.
CSKA enters this final as the defending champions of the Russian Cup. In last season's tournament, the army club defeated Rostov in the final. That match also ended 0-0 after regular time, with CSKA ultimately prevailing 4-3 in the penalty shootout to lift the trophy.
The atmosphere surrounding this Moscow derby is electric, with Spartak's supporters already making their intentions clear through their pre-match performance. Both sets of fans will be eager to see their team claim the prestigious cup trophy in what promises to be a memorable final at Lukoil Arena.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.