Spartak Moscow defeated SKA Saint Petersburg 3:1 on Wednesday evening in the KHL. The match took place at the Spartak arena as both sides began their recent campaigns against one another. The visitors had entered the fixture having won every game they had played this season.
SKA's record stood at three victories from three matches, including wins over Lada twice and Dynamo Moscow. Spartak's form was more mixed, with a victory against CSKA followed by losses to Nizhny Novgorod and CSKA in succession.
And here's the thing — we had backed Spartak to win, placing 45 per cent confidence on the home side. It was not our strongest prediction, but the tactical picture suggested a shift in momentum. By then, SKA had grown accustomed to controlling matches against weaker opposition.
The result ended SKA's unbeaten run at the top of the table. Spartak moved into sixth place with their first win, while the visitors dropped from an unblemished record. The standings remain fluid this early in the season, but the psychological edge shifted to the home team.
Spartak will look to build on this result as they face another fixture soon. SKA must now regroup after their first defeat, with the pressure to maintain their position growing. For now, the hosts have snatched a victory against the league leaders.