Salvation is a handiwork: how three Russians reached the Champions League playoffs

The sensation of Nikta Khaykin's team, the status of Matvey Safonov's number one in PSG, the important result of Alexander Golovin's Monaco and the irreplaceability of Egor Sorokin for Kairat. About how the Russian football players spent the main stage of the Champions League - in the material of Izvestia.

Nikita Khaykin, "Buda-Glimt"

8 matches, 15 goals conceded

Nikita Khaykin has been writing history with Bud Glimt for several years now. The yellow-blacks began their ascent with the quarterfinals of the Conference League. Last season, we became the first team from Norway in the semi-finals of the League, and now we have made our debut in the most prestigious continental tournament. Even if the path of the Scandinavians had ended on Wednesday, their performance could have been called worthy. Now, after the Madrid feat in the meeting with Atletico (1:2), the ratings are extremely enthusiastic.

At first, the Vikings filled the cones. And since their bold football implies risk, Khaikin had plenty of work to do in every match. On the one hand, Nikita conceded 15 goals in the main stage. At the same time, he did not make obvious mistakes, and other figures are more indicative. So, the Russian is by far the most saving goalkeeper of the tournament! In eight rounds, he deflected 49 shots at his own goal. Eight more than Courtois had. Ruli (Marseille) and Anarbekov (Kairat), who completed the top three, fell even further behind (36 saves each).

In addition, everything determines the result, and for the same Marseille, everything ended in failure in Bruges and an inglorious departure. But "Bude" goes further, having won two status matches. In the meeting with Manchester City, with its high defensive line, Khaykin's talent for launching fast attacks, which have become his team's hallmark, was fully manifested. And in Madrid, Nikita missed only once in the last round, stopping seven shots at his own goal. Contributed with the Norwegian miracle that continues.

Matvey Safonov, PSG

2 matches, 1 missed goal

The Russian national team goalkeeper's finest hour this season came in the Intercontinental Cup final, where Safonov made history with four deflected penalties. But, unfortunately, in that heroic episode, Matvey broke his arm and was out of action at the moment when he was at the peak of his form and grabbed his chance with his teeth. His successful segment also included a meeting in Bilbao with Athletic, which ended in a goalless draw.

French statisticians immediately noticed that Safonov had surpassed Chevalier's coaching staff, who had enjoyed unlimited trust since the beginning of the season, in terms of the number of champions League "crackers." Matvey did not miss in three of the eight such matches, while his competitor did in two of the sixteen. But the point, of course, is not in statistics, but in the fact that the Frenchman does not justify the status of goalkeeper, who was bought for € 40 million and was considered as the heir of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The fact that Luis Enrique chose only the recovered Safonov for the final match of the main stage of the Champions League with Newcastle is an indicative moment. Especially against the background of Chevalier's productive mistake in Lisbon, which turned into a defeat for PSG against Sporting. It is difficult to find fault with Safonov in the game with Newcastle. There were some blurs, which was expected after a forced pause, but it was almost impossible to deflect Willock's headbutt at point-blank range. Now it is very important how Enrique evaluates the game and who he will bet on in the future. If Safonov does not return to the bench, it will be possible to talk about changing his status in the Paris superclub.

Beyond the possibility: which of the Russians will shine in the decisive round of the Champions League

And what do Golovin, Safonov and Khaikin's teams claim?

Alexander Golovin, Monaco

6 matches, 0 effective actions

For Alexander Golovin, the current Champions League is as ambiguous as the entire Monaco season. But if the Monegasques fail in the national championship, they do better in Europe. For the second year in a row, the team from the principality got into trouble, and the only failure occurred at the start of the main stage away from Brugge (1-4), when Golovin was healing an injury.

1-6 at the Santiago Bernabeu is a special story. First of all, Real Madrid was inspired that evening. Secondly, Sebastien Pocognoli, who took over the team during the season, admitted that he had chosen a bold game plan and had no regrets.

In the rest of the matches with Golovin's participation, Monaco gave the result. Draws with Tottenham, Paphos and Juventus, as well as laborious victories over Buda Glimt and Galatasaray (twice 1 each:0) they gave points, which allowed them to continue playing in the tournament. Alexander has no effective actions, but he has consistently maintained his level. 82.3 percent of accurate transmissions is a class indicator. Especially considering the change of positions, of which there were three during the tournament. Golovin played on the left flank, in the center of midfield and the "top ten". The change of coaches did not affect the confidence in the midfielder, who on Wednesday entered the top three players of the club in terms of the number of matches in the Champions League (39).

Egor Sorokin, "Kairat"

8 matches, 0 effective actions

It was difficult to demand something special from Kairat, who got into the Champions League for the first time. The team has already accomplished an athletic feat, passing four qualifying rounds and not allowing Celtic to enter the main stage. The decisive game with the Scots is the most emotional moment of the Kazakhstanis in the European campaign (1-0). Yegor Sorokin then played flawlessly for 120 minutes and executed the winning shot in the penalty shootout.

And in the main stage, Kairat played as well as they could and tried to enjoy the big tournament. Sometimes he was powerless against the stellar attack of Real Madrid (0:5), but he was able to give Inter a fight in Milan (1:2) and fight Arsenal in London (2:3) to the last. And the Kazakhstanis played the only zero game against Paphos (0:0).

Sorokin is one of five players who took part in all 16 matches of the European campaign, including the qualifiers, but at the same time significantly outperformed the rest in playing time. 1,500 minutes without a single replacement! Rafael Urazbakhtin at some point sent former Krasnodar captain Martynovich to the reserve, while the Russian always played, and the head coach noted his leadership qualities. Yes, Kairat is last in the table, but the team gave the country a football holiday, and Sorokin is one of the creators of historical success.