Titov setback for Spartak
Friday, September 13, 2002
Article summary
FC Spartak Moskva have suffered a major blow after Yegor Titov broke down on his return to action.
Article body
FC Spartak Moskva captain Yegor Titov faces between one and four months on the sidelines after breaking down on his return to action.
Out of action
Titov limped off after only 40 minutes of yesterday's 1-1 Russian Premier-Liga draw against FC Lokomotiv Moskva. The 26-year-old midfield player now looks set to miss all of Spartak's first group stage matches in the UEFA Champions League, beginning against FC Basel on Tuesday.
'Disaster struck'
"I did not feel anything bad and then the disaster struck again," he said. "The ligaments cannot hold my weight." Titov, who was named Russia captain in August, will fly to Germany for surgery in the next few days.
Uphill task
Second-placed Spartak, who face an uphill task to defend their league title with Lokomotiv five points above them with a game in hand, have also lost key defender Dmytro Parfionov for the rest of the season.