Newcastle United and Anzhi Makhachkala both have entertaining players and very little to lose in Europa League, so there were hopes that the teams would come out to attack and entertain the crowd in Dagestan. They did nothing of the sort, playing one of the dullest football matches anyone will watch in Europe this season. Their 0-0 draw was the only fair result that could have been produced by this match.
Anzhi Makhachkala vs. Newcastle United, 2013 UEFA Europa League: Final score 0-0, we are all asleep
This was really the worst thing and hardly even football.
The first shot attempted in the game by either team came in the 40th minute, by Samuel Eto'o. It was comfortably saved by Newcastle backup keeper Robert Elliott. That is this game in a nutshell.
While both teams had more goal attempts in the second half, neither actually challenged their opposition’s goal. A combination of good defensive midfield play and adverse weather conditions kept both teams from doing much of anything in the attacking third, and both sides will probably be happy to head to St. James’ Park with the score knotted up at 0-0.
If, by chance, this is the style of football that you enjoy, there’s more if it to be found later in the day. ‘Negative Provincial Russian Football’ is a specialty of Rubin Kazan, as well as Anzhi.
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