Greeks aren’t afraid of frost

The match between Rubin and Olympiakos was transferred from Kazan to Moscow due to the weather conditions.

However, it turned out that not only the technical staff of the Kazan stadium were unprepared to accept the European team, the Rubin players themselves proved to be equally unprepared for the game. The Greeks maintained the offensive throughout the game and won 1:0.

The Rubin players had a perfect chance to save the situation 5 minutes after the first goal was scored, but Olympiakos’ goalkeeper Roy Carroll managed to return the 11-meter penalty delivered by Bibras Natkho. According to Carroll, he knew the technique of Natkho so he could make the right move in time. Despite this failure, Rubin chief manager Kurban Berdyev said that Natkho will remain the team’s chief ‘penalty specialist’.

Due to their numerical superiority Rubin footballers took the offensive at the end of the game, but they still couldn’t score or even tickle the nerves of the Greek goalkeeper. So Berdyev’s team now finds itself in a very difficult position on the eve of the important game with the same team in Greece. They need a win, not a draw. It doesn’t mean that Kazan FC stands no chance and Rubin players and the coach are aiming to win.  
Another Russian FC, Moscow Lokomotiv, is also participating in the final 16 of the Europa League and is scheduled to play Spain's Atletico Bilbao FC on February 23. First match will be held in Moscow, the return game will take place in Bilbao.

In the framework of the League’s quarter-final, St Petersburg Zenit will meet with Portugal's Benfica on February 15.

As for the games that have already taken place, Barcelona and Lyon won their quarter-final League games. The rival of CSKA, Real Madrid FC will arrive in Moscow on February 19 – two days before the match.  According to the Spanish AS newspaper, this is due to the freezing temperatures in Moscow. Usually the team arrives in the country where its next match is scheduled on the eve of the game, but Real’s board of coaches decided to give the players time to get used to the frost.

The CSKA vs Real game will be held on February 21 at 21:00, Moscow time. The weather forecast says it will be -10 Celsius. The return game is due to take place on March 14 in Madrid.