A new era is emerging in Russian football, where the main trump card is not athleticism, but speed thinking. At the center of this coup are two young players: Alexey Batrakov and Matvey Kislyak.
The Russian Premier League is going through a period when not only brute strength and athleticism come to the fore, but also speed thinking and tactical flexibility. At the center of this new movement are two young players whose names are on everyone’s lips today. Alexey Batrakov from Lokomotiv and Matvey Kislyak from CSKA demonstrate a game that makes us take a fresh look at the possibilities of domestic football.
Their success is based not on their impressive size, but on their phenomenal decision-making speed, their ability to read the game, and their unconventional approach to their roles. They break down established stereotypes, proving that even in a hard contact championship it is possible to dominate at the expense of intelligence and technique. Of course, the matches with their participation attract increased attention from the fans.
The trajectory
Their career paths are similar in many ways. Both went through a period of doubt related to their physical attributes. In youth football, where power and speed are often valued above all, such “puny” players did not always gain the trust of coaches. As Vadim Garanin, who previously worked in the Russian youth national team, notes, it was objectively difficult for such guys to compete with physically developed peers. However, it was this limitation that became a powerful incentive for Batrakov and Kislyak to develop other qualities.
From an early age, they learned to compensate for their modest size with excellent ball control, tactical discipline, and the ability to anticipate the development of an attack. Today, these skills, forged in their youth, allow them to more than beat more powerful, but sometimes straightforward counterparts.
Alexey Batrakov: architect of the high-speed Lokomotive game
The twenty-year-old Railwaymen striker didn’t just become the team’s top scorer. He became a key element of her entire attacking concept. His stats are impressive: nine goals and three assists, making him the league’s second-leading scorer, behind only Eduard Spertsyan. At the same time, its uniqueness lies not even in the dry numbers, but in the manner of the game. With his height of 171 centimeters, Batrakov is the RPL leader in head-to-head goals. This fact speaks volumes about his phenomenal gaming intelligence and ability to be at the right point at the right moment.
The style of Lokomotiv, led by Mikhail Galaktionov, perfectly matches Batrakov’s strengths. The team relies on fast, almost instant attacks. For her, possession of the ball for fifteen to twenty seconds is already considered a long-term positional combination. In this scheme, Alexey acts as a link that unites all the lines of the team. He moves the ball quickly and accurately, often in one or two touches, creating sharpness where there would seem to be no space. A vivid illustration of his effectiveness was the hat-trick in the match against Spartak. After processing Silyanov’s throw, making two passes and striking from behind the penalty area, Batrakov spent only six touches on this whole episode. His ability to destroy the opponent’s defense in a matter of seconds is the main weapon of Lokomotiv.
Matvey Kislyak: the heart of the renewed CSKA
Fabio Celestini’s team has also found a place for a young talent who has rethought his role on the pitch. Matvey Kislyak, nominally considered a defensive midfielder, demonstrates incredible freedom of movement and versatility. With seven assists (three goals and four assists), he became one of the most influential players in the Army team. His progress is especially noticeable if you remember that last fall he was just gaining a foothold in the base, and in the spring he was already confidently eclipsing the influence of such an experienced player as Miralem Pjanic.
The philosophy of CSKA, based on ball control and systematic creation of chances, provided Kislyak with ideal conditions for growth. It is not limited to the functions of an attack disruptor or a simple packer. Matvey is actively involved in the development of attacks, starting from helping the central defenders and ending with rushes into someone else’s penalty area.
His assists are the result of a fine understanding of the game and technical equipment. A break past five Akhmat defenders and an accurate pass into the corridor to Krugov, a quick triangle using his heel in the game against Zenit, a filigree wall and a pass against Rubin – all this demonstrates his versatility. Kislyak learned not just to follow the coach’s instructions, but to independently control the pace and direction of his team’s attacks.
The Inner Kitchen of success: why statistics believe them
One of the most interesting aspects of both players’ performances is their ability to consistently exceed expectations. Analysts use the xG (expected Goals) metric to evaluate the quality of created chances. Batrakov has scored nine goals this season with an expected 4.54. This trend continues with him – at the end of last year, the gap was even more significant. Kislyak also demonstrates similar efficiency, giving four assists at a projected 2.51.
Many would attribute such a discrepancy to simple luck. However, in the case of Batrakov and Kislyak, we are talking about a deep understanding of the game and honed skills. Their “over-fulfillment of the plan” is not an accident, but a natural result of their playing qualities.
Batrakov has a unique ability to choose a position and strike with such force and accuracy that goalkeepers are often powerless. He turns into goals even those moments that are statistically unpromising.
Kislyak, on the other hand, ensures his effectiveness due to his vision of the field and his filigree pass. Four of his assists were earned in the fight after drawing standard positions and due to skillful attack control. They don’t rely on luck, they create it themselves, thanks to their skill and speed of thought.
Tactical duel in the derby
The game between Lokomotiv and CSKA promised to be more than just another crucial match. It could turn into a personal duel between two leaders of a new generation. Theoretically, the audience could witness a direct confrontation between two talented players. But there was no duel. Loko won with a goal from Batrakov.
However, their influence on the game of the teams is manifested not in individual episodes, but in the general acceleration of the rhythm. Lokomotiv and CSKA look more dynamic than many other top clubs this season precisely because of their leaders. Batrakov and Kislyak constantly move the ball, make short and medium passes, shift between the lines, forcing the opponent’s defense to be constantly on edge. They are not afraid to take responsibility and take risks, which leads to the creation of moments even from seemingly hopeless situations. Their cunning and speed of thinking are capable of coloring the grayest match at any moment and deciding the outcome of the meeting with one precise action.
Their success is a signal for the entire Russian football system. He proves that it is important to pay attention not only to the physical condition of a young player, but also to his game intelligence, technique, ability to quickly process information and make non-standard decisions. By their example, Batrakov and Kislyak open the way for other talented football players who do not fit into the traditional framework of a “powerful athlete.” They show that an athlete’s main strength may lie not in his muscles, but in his head.
