"Metro shows Spartak the exit," read the front-page headline in Wednesday's daily Sovietsky Sport in reference to a 1-0 defeat by Inter that all but ruined their chances of reaching the knockout round.

The Russians almost missed the start of the game after getting stuck in traffic on their way to the Luzhniki Olympic stadium.

It proved to be a bad omen with Julio Cruz striking just 58 seconds into the match and holding out for victory.

Spartak full back Martin Stranzl said he had never been on the Moscow metro before.

"I was shocked how crowded it was," the Austrian international, whose failed clearance led to Cruz's goal, was quoted as saying by the Russian media.

Spartak captain Yegor Titov said he had not used the metro since the early 1990s.

"I don't remember if we ever had this situation before," said the 30-year-old Russia playmaker. "But we had no other choice. Our team bus just stopped dead because of traffic. I think we had moved for about 50 metres in 45 minutes."

Titov said Moscow police had to guard the players on their metro journey.

"They (police) also allowed us to use the metro for free," he said. "It was all right, although a bit too hot in there."

Spartak coach Vladimir Fedotov said after the match that his biggest worry was losing players underground. "I was afraid that we would lose some of our players because most of them probably have never used the metro before and could have got lost there. I had to chase after everyone and make sure no-one was left behind," he said.

"We were running late, thus we didn't have a proper warm-up and it all contributed to our poor play at the beginning.

"I had to conduct the pre-game talk inside the carriage."