Spartak Moscow has celebrated midfielder Ruslan Litvinov's spectacular opening goal in their Russian Cup final derby against CSKA. The club's official Telegram channel posted a photo of the player wearing a crown, captioning it with a message expressing their shock and admiration for the strike, which they labeled a 'royal goal.'
The decisive moment came early in the match at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow. Litvinov found the back of the net in the 10th minute with a powerful long-range effort from outside the penalty area, giving his red-and-white side a 1-0 lead in the final of the Fonbet Russian Cup's Regional Path for the 2025/2026 season.
This final represents the culmination of a challenging cup run for both Moscow giants. Spartak advanced to this stage by defeating Zenit Saint Petersburg in a tense penalty shootout following a goalless draw. CSKA, the defending champions, secured their place by overcoming Krylya Sovetov with a convincing 5-2 victory.
The match carries significant weight, as CSKA enters as the reigning holder of the Russian Cup. They claimed the trophy in the previous edition by defeating Rostov in a final that also ended 0-0 after regular time, with CSKA winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3.
Litvinov's early strike has set the tone for this highly anticipated derby, with Spartak looking to dethrone their city rivals and lift the cup. The game is currently underway with Spartak holding the narrow advantage.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.