Sporting briefs...

Moscow derby: Russian champions CSKA beat last year's runners-up Spartak 3-2 in a Moscow derby yesterday to win the Supercup, the annual curtain-raiser to the season. The army side twice came from behind to beat their arch-rivals, CSKA's Brazilian newcomer Jo scoring the winner eight minutes from time. But their victory was overshadowed by clashes between rival fans, considered the most violent in Russian soccer, in two separate incidents, involving hundreds of supporters.

Koeman: Benfica's Dutch coach Ronald Koeman is confident his team can overcome favourites Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. Koeman, who played for the Spanish club for several years, made his mark in Barca's history by scoring the only goal in their only European Cup success when they beat Sampdoria in the 1992 final at Wembley. "Barcelona are one of the favourites to win. They have great players like Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Deco but I'm pleased to face them because I played (for) and coached them for many years," he said. "I know the atmosphere at the Nou Camp but I must remind people that we play the first leg at the Stadium of Light where the climate is equally intense."

Lokomotiv: Lokomotiv Moscow have signed Egypt striker Amr Zaki and Tunisian midfielder Saker Zouaghi on five-year contracts. Scotland striker Garry O'Connor, 22, signed a five-year deal with Lokomotiv on Tuesday. The North African pair join Lokomotiv's multi-national squad for the start of the Russian league season on March 18. The railway side also signed Croat Emir Spahic, fellow defender Slovak Marian Had, Serb Branislav Ivanovic, Ghana midfielder Larry Kingston, Brazilian winger Selsinho and Mali striker Draman Traore.

Smertin: Chelsea midfielder Alexei Smertin has joined Dynamo Moscow on a four-year deal. Russia's captain struggled to make the starting line-up at Chelsea and was loaned to Charlton at the start of the season. He had joined the west London club from French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux for five million euros in August 2003.