Gagarin Cup playoffs kick off

MINSK, 1 March (BelTA) — The 2023/24 Gagarin Cup playoffs kicked off with matches in Ufa, Kazan, Moscow and Yaroslavl on 29 February, BelTA has learned.

Traktor, sixth in the East, won 3-2 in Ufa against a Salavat Yulaev team that finished third. Last year’s runner-up Ak Bars was the second home team to lose, going down 1-2 against Avtomobilist. The reigning champion CSKA opened their Gagarin Cup campaign with a 4-0 win against third seed Lokomotiv. Spartak was the only team to win on its home ground edging Severstal 3-2.

On 1 March three more pairs will start their playoff run. These are Avangard and Lada, Metallurg and Amur, SKA and Torpedo.

Dinamo Minsk will open their playoff series on 2 March against Dynamo Moscow.