Spartak Moscow to buy players to compete with Barcelona

Moscow: Russian football club Spartak Moscow will be buying new players with the aim of turning the club into a rival to European giants Barcelona.

Spartak lost 2-3 to Barcelona in the Champions League Wednesday, but team owner Leonid Fedun said the narrow defeat was not enough. "I`d have been satisfied with a draw," he said Sunday. "For me the main thing was to see the weak points in my team that need strengthening so it can compete with teams like Barcelona." Asked whether this meant new signings, he said, "Yes." Spartak bought in Brazil midfielder Romulo and Sweden`s Kim Kallstrom in the summer, but was outshone by rivals Zenit St. Petersburg`s record €40 million signings of Hulk and Axel Witsel. Spartak finished second to Zenit in the Russian Premier League last season and is sixth this season after nine games. IANS