As play heads into week thirteen of the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia, Zenit Saint Petersburg is quickly running away from the pack and on the verge of turning the race for a charge for second place. However, this weekend the key match is unquestionably Rubin Kazan’s visit to the capital to face Spartak, with the Krasno-belye’s season slowly slipping away.
Saturday
Zenit St Petersburg - Sibir Novosibirsk
The Petrovsky faithful welcome their heroes after their complete domination of Alaniya Vladikavkaz last week. Though Zenit has went through a long period of adaptation to manager Luciano Spalletti's system, against Alaniya they finally found their top gear and were unstoppable. With Serbian international Danko Lazović back in the fold the pace of the Zenit attack is capable of overrunning the competition and its difficult to foresee a stumble.
Sibir manager Igor Kriushenko has seen his side show a superb fighting spirit in their fight to avoid relegation, typified by last weeks 2-2 draw against Dynamo. Lead by veteran sniper Aleksey Medvedev and some impressive play by Aleksandr Antipenko, Sibir has shown a good counter attacking impetus but against Zenit, they will look to button down the proceedings with a compact defending approach though they will be without Dmitriy Molosh due to suspension.
Dynamo Moscow - Rostov
The White-Blues welcome Rostov to Arena Khimki after last weeks highly disappointing draw with Sibir. Manager Miodrag Božović waits for the arrival of new signings Kevin Kurányi and Marko Lomić but still there are many unanswered questions of his sides extraordinary under performance. Dynamo is rife with talent, including brilliant young striker Alexandr Kokorin, but are playing without confidence.
On the opposite end of the perspective is Rostov who shocked Spartak Moscow last week with a 1-0 victory. Rostov manager Oleg Protasov deployed an air tight tactical play that frustrated the Krasno-belye. Riding a two-match winning streak, Rostov enjoys a lofty position at fifth in the table and though they will be without Alexandru Gaţcan, due to suspension, are playing with confidence and discipline.
Spartak Moscow - Rubin Kazan
Spartak Moscow is in dire need of a win as they welcome defending champion Rubin Kazan to the capital. After consecutive losses to Alaniya Vladikavkaz and Rostov in league play, Spartak had to work hard to get past Metallurg Lipetsk midweek in the Russian Cup. With pressure building on Krasno-belye manager Valeriy Karpin needs his side to play to their promise but of late, intensity has been lacking. Spartak has seen Ivan Saenko and Sergey Parshivlyuk standout but otherwise the attack is lacking. Nikita Bazhenov looked promising in his return in the Russian Cup and could jump into the starting grid as Welliton after being carried off with an injury.
Kurban Berdyev’s Rubin Kazan responded from their modest performances of the first half of the campaign with a solid victory over Krylya Sovetov last week. With Alan Kasaev, Evgeniy Balyaykin and Gökdeniz Karadeniz back in the line-up, Rubin's attack picked up pace but the defending champion will need to reverse their recent trend of faltering against Spartak in the capital.
Sunday
Tom Tomsk - Anzhi Makhachkala
On Sunday, the action starts with Tom Tomsk welcoming Anzhi Makhachkala to Siberia after last week’s late loss to Amkar Perm. Valeriy Nepomnyaschy’s side have had issues at home but he kept much of his normal starting line-up out of the Russian Cup match against Krasnodar and they should be well rested. He will however be without Andrey Ivanov, who is suspended due to card build-up.
Without a win since week five, Anzhi is within two points of the drop zone and finding their once promising attack with Jan Holenda. Former CSKA Sofia man Todor Timonov scored twice in their mid-week Russian Cup over Pskov-747 Pskov and could easily find himself in Gadzhi Gadzhiev's starting eleven.
Terek Grozny - Amkar Perm
Grozny opened the second half of the campaign with a lethargic loss to Spartak Nalchik. With the services of playmaker Blagoy Georgiev, Anatoliy Baidachny’s side lacked the same attacking vision and it is difficult to see where that will come from in his absence.
Rashid Rakhimov Amkar Perm shocked Tom Tomsk last week as Alexandr Kolomeytsev scored his first goal in the top flight of Russian football as time wound down. Amkar continues to fight their way from relegation with a resourceful approach, though they are short on the attacking end. The Amkar tactician is Mitar Novaković due to suspension.
Lokomotiv Moscow - Alaniya Vladikavkaz
Despite lacking in the striking department, Yuriy Semin has quietly squeezed his side to sixth place and looking very capable of a run towards a spot in Europe. The Railwayman welcomed Wágner and Rodolfo back in last weeks win against Anzhi and with Marko Baša returning the Russian Cup, they appear primed for a run towards the finish. Lokomotiv is without Tomislav Dujmović due to suspension.
Alaniya gets back into action after Zenit ran them off the pitch last week. With only one win away from home this year, Vladimir Shevchuk's forces face a tough test in the Lokomotiv fortress. Alaniya's efforts will be without Valeriy Tskhovrebov who is suspended.
Monday
Krylya Sovetov - CSKA Moscow
CSKA head to Samara to face relegation threatened Krylya Sovetov. After being held to a disappointing draw against Saturn, Leonid Slutsky's side got past Torpedo Moscow in the Russian Cup with Guilherme scoring twice. Deividas Semberas is unavailable due to suspension and the CSKA tactician has a series of unusual line-up choices to make with Miloš Krasić seemingly on his way out but has been sub-par recently. Many questions remain around the Army-Men camp as they must deal with the arrivals of Zoran Tošić and Seydou Doumbia along with the surprising return of Vágner Love.
Yuriy Gazzaev's side is in the midst of the three-match losing streak and will need to bolt down this contest. Surrendering twenty-one goals, the Samaran's are one of the worst defending units in the league and need play with more disciplined defending if they are to survive in the top flight.
Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast - Spartak Nalchik
Andrey Gordeev's Ramenskoe based side shocked CSKA last week with a hard fought draw in their effort to avoid relegation. Following the match Army-Men manager Leonid Slutsky noted Saturn is far above their bottom of the table placing. Despite some compliments, Saturn needs to score and without Dmitriy Loskov who was not resigned. Saturn needed a penalty shoot-out to get past Sakhalin Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the Russian Cup but should be well rested by Monday.
Yuriy Krasnozhan's Nalchik confidently dispatched Terek Grozny last week but they are without Gogita Gogua and Miodrag Džudović, both under suspension. Sitting fourth in the table, if they are to make a run for a European spot, this it the type of contest they need full points from.
Prepared by John Davies
... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!
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