PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY PROGRAM PREVIEW

Following the Friday evening season opener of Amkar Perm versus CSKA Moscow at Luzhniki Stadium, the balance of the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia gets underway on the weekend.


Krylya Sovetov v Zenit Saint-Petersburg

Saturday begins with high flying Zenit Saint Petersburg visiting Krylya Sovetov in Samara.

Of the many heroes in the 2009 Russian campaign, there is a special chapter dedicated to Anatoliy Davydov. Starting with his extraordinary playing days for Zenit Leningrad, through to his coaching career, Mr. Davydov has shown tireless devotion for Zenit and once he took over from Dick Advocaat in August the club quickly pushed to a third place finish.

With former Roma manager Luciano Spalletti now in-charge, Zenit has re-tooled its line-up into one of the most potent attacking sides in Russia with firm plans on European play. Along with Alexandr Kerzhakov returning from Dynamo, Zenit has added Serbian international Danko Lazović from PSV and defender Michael Lumb from AGF. Combined with Vladimir Bystrov, Danny and Szabolcs Huszti, Zenit are capable of scoring at will and an immediate threat to stand atop the league at years-end.

For Krylya Sovetov, the winter months were a trying time as they faced enormous financial hurdles to escape the same fate of FC Moscow. Faced with uncertainty to this day, with countless questions on the payment of player and coaches salaries, manager Yuriy Gazzaev faces a massive task. The Samaran’s have lost their top talent, including Jan Koller, Jiří Jarošík, Timofey Kalachev and Vladislav Ignatyev, with few additions to note. Krylia will need Evgeniy Savin and the highly promising Alexandr Stavpets, who arrived from FC Moscow, to produce in the attacking end within a well disciplined plan of attack.

Anzhi Makhachkala v Spartak Nalchik

The second match of Saturday sees 2009 “great escape” winners, Spartak Nalchik, visit newly promoted Anzhi Makhachkala.

Spartak Nalchik stunning last season run to avoid relegation was awe inspiring. Manager Yuriy Krasnozhan has lost sharpshooter Shamil Asildarov to Terek Grozny along with Antonio Ferreira and Dmitriy Yatchenko, without a great deal of incoming talent.

After winning the First Division, Omari Tetradze's Anzhi Makhachkala have added Mitar Peković from Vojvodina, Jan Holenda from Sparta Praha and Todor Timonov from CSKA Sofia.

Rostov v Tom Tomsk

In the final match of Saturday, Rostov welcomes Tom Tomsk in what is likely to be a mid-table battle.

Rostov barely avoided relegation last year but made considerable additions to this years line-up that includes Sorin Ghionea from Steaua Bucureşti, Timofei Kalachev from Krylya Sovetov, goalkeeper Dejan Radić from Spartak Nalchik as well as loaning Roman Adamov from Rubin Kazan and Stanislav Ivanov from Lokomotiv Moscow. Manager Oleg Protasov, is no stranger to football aficionados of the Soviet Union and has a very capable line-up as he targets a mid-table finish.

Siberia's Tom Tomsk, led by Valeriy Nepomnyaschy is capable of a mid-table table finish along with side savvy Đorđe Jokić returning have but have made crucial additions with Kim Nam-Il from Vissel Kobe, Belarusian striker Sergey Kornilenko, on-loan from Zenit Saint Petersburg and Serghei Covalciuc from Spartak Moscow.

Prepared by John Davies