The Russian sides failed to capitalize on home-pitch advantage in the Europa League. Rubin played a 2-2 with PAOK, while Lokomotiv went 2-0 down to Andrelecht.
Rubin Kazan 2-2 PAOK
Rubin had to work hard to come from a goal down in Kazan after Stefanos Athanasiadis gave the Greeks a 23rd-minute lead.
The second-half pressure from the hosts resulted in two goals from Bebras Natch and Vladimir Dyadyun, 2-1.
Rubin has been well known for its tight defense in Europe, but this year they have serious problems at the back.
PAOK took advantage of their opponent’s mistake, with Giorgos Fotakis scoring with his head in the 81st minute, 2-2.
“We played two different halves,” said Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev. “The guys looked shy in the first, were too afraid to make a mistake. And in the second we showed a lot more active game. The fateful role was played by PAOK’s counterattacks… It’s a pity to lose two points, but… there’s still everything to fight for.”
Rubin has four points after two Group A games, with the Greeks two points behind, having drawn both of their encounters.
Lokomotiv Moscow 0-2 Andrelecht
One team was attacking and the other one was scoring at the stadium in Cherkizovo on Thursday night.
Lokomotiv controlled the ball from the start, but their attacking trio of Dmitry Sychev, Maicon and Victor Obinna just lacked the final touch.
The hosts also have questions for the referee, who decided not to see a foul in the box from Anderlecht keeper Silvio Proto, but saw a very doubtful offside when Sychev finally managed to put the ball in the net.
But the Belgians showed Loko what killer instinct means, scoring two goals from a grand total of just two chances.
Matias Suarez opened the scoring in the 10th minute, bagging his fourth goal in two games. And Dieudonne Mbokani beat the Railwaymen’s keeper in the air to set the final 2-0 score 19 minutes before the end.
“We were in full control of the game, so the only reason for our failure are our mistakes,” said Lokomotiv coach Jose Couceiro. “I also want to point out that the penalty wasn’t awarded against our opponents, the red card wasn’t shown to the keeper, and Dmitry Sychev’s goal was denied… All this despite the fact that the match had five referees.”
“However, I have to say that Anderlecht is a very strong team,” he added. “But we will continue to fight for the first place in the group.”
Anderlecht tops the Group L standings, with a perfect record. Lokomotiv shares the second spot with Sturm Graz. The Austrians also have three points in the bag after beating AEK on the night.