LOKOMOTIV VS. DYNAMO BATTLE IN CRITICAL MOSCOW DERBY

Sunday in matchday eighteen of the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia opens with a relegation battle as Sibir Novosibirsk welcomes Amkar Perm to Siberia with Igor Kriushenko's side slipping further and further away from the top flight.


While they showed well against Nalchik last week and managed a shock late victory over PSV in the Europa League, the Siberian’s have considerable ground on the table and is in need of a victory. Last week, Rashid Rakhimov's Red-Black's ended its four-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Alaniya Vladikavkazv but otherwise are not playing with confidence. Amkar's tough defending stance will be tested by the Siberians free wheeling assault.

In the highlight match of the day, Lokomotiv faces another crucial Moscow Derby this week, this against Dynamo at Arena Khimki with both sides in dire need of a win. Against Spartak last week, the Railwayman's attack lacked consistency and Yuriy Semin has yet to see his side win on the road this year. The Lokomotiv mastermind welcomes Dmitriy Torbinsky back after suspension but he has lost both Tomislav Dujmović, to Dynamo and Peter Odemwingie to English Premier League side West Brom this past week. Without a win in four contests, the Railwayman have drifted well off course and must see greater attacking pulse from other than Oleksandr Aliyev or they will miss out on a spot in Europe.

Dynamo continues to reshape itself under Miodrag Božović with the arrival of Kevin Kurányi and now Martin Jakubko and if they do not turn around shortly, will be playing for next season. The White-Blues suffered through an abysmal start last week against Zenit but thanks to goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov they were able to sustain the assault and grab a draw. The White-Blues are without Dmitriy Khokhlov due to suspension but otherwise need to show greater confidence going forward. Andriy Voronin continues to show tremendous leadership but Dynamo needs, as a whole, to not show fear in the attack.

Defending champions Rubin Kazan welcome Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast to Central Stadium coming off an unsatisfying draw with Terek Grozny. Last week Rubin manager Kurban Berdyev ushered new arrival from Sibir Novosibirsk Alexey Medvedev and after the break paired him the clubs major summer acquisition, former Newcastle striker Oba Martins. In combination with the new arrivals and the rapidly emerging Alan Kasaev, Rubin will possess an imposing attack once they gel. César Navas and Rafał Murawski are unavailable due to suspension.

Andrey Gordeev's Ramenskoe-based side meteoric rise up the table was halted last week by Rostov but they continue to play with a complete different vision that prior to the break. Veteran Dmitriy Kirichenko is enjoying a renaissance and a consistent threat going forward. Saturn is without Ruslan Nakhushev but otherwise fully-fit.

In the final match of the day Anzhi Makhachkala visits Alaniya Vladikavkaz. Coming off his sides humiliating 4-0 loss to CSKA, Anzhi manager Gadzhi Gadzhiev will be looking for a disciplined defending display. Anzhi has had a lot of problems away from home and need to reverse this trend as they are gradually being pulled back into the relegation battle. Alaniya overwhelmed Amkar for much of the day last week lacked finishing in route to a 1-0 loss. Manager Vladimir Shevchuk is without Aslan Mashukov and looking for greater service to young gun Alexandr Marenich.

Prepared by John Davies

... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK 18 PREDICTIONS

This week’s Premier League predictions are made by former Spartak striker Sergey Shvetsov and sport journalist Maxim Maximov.


Spartak – FC Tom

Expert prediction: 2-0.

Sport press prediction: 2-0. Spartak reinforced their squad as they try to restore the club’s former glory.

Krylya Sovetov – Terek

Expert prediction: 1-0. Krylya Sovetov don’t want to play in the First Division, so they desperately need points.

Sport press prediction: 0-1. Atmosphere is Samara is not favourable and Terek is likely to play the first violin.

Sibir – Amkar

Expert prediction: 2-1. Amkar beat Sibir in the first half of the championship and Novosibirsk sides is eager to take revenge on them.

Sport press prediction: 1-0.

Dynamo – Lokomotiv

Expert prediction: 1-1. Both teams are not at their best form and their clash is likely to end in a draw.

Sport press prediction: 1-0. Dynamo seem to be stronger and most likely they will take three points in Moscow derby.

Rubin – Saturn

Expert prediction: 2-0. Rubin will take three points and maybe will score even more than two goals.

Sport press prediction: 1-0. Kazan lost their strength a little bit, but they will win Sunday game anyway.

Alaniya – Anzhi

Expert prediction: 2-1. Shevchyuk is likely to remind his players of their loss in Makhachkala in the first half of the season.

Sport press prediction: 2-0. Anzhi won’t feel comfortable in Vladikavkaz.

... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!

NALCHIK AND ROSTOV IN CRUCIAL FRIDAY NIGHT BATTLE

Week Eighteen of Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia opens with a Friday evening battle that could have enormous implications on the race for a spot in Europe as Rostov welcomes fourth place Spartak Nalchik.


Whilst the attention has been on the likes of CSKA and Rubin fighting it out for the second spot, Yuriy Krasnozhan's Nalchik side have crept to within two points of a Champions League spot and Rostov is not backing down. The two upstarts sit at fourth and fifth in the table and as the campaign nears the final stretch run have a distinct possibility at grabbing a spot in Europe.

Oleh Protasov's Rostov have continued to play an up-tempo style and after a brief dip against Zenit and Dynamo have found their footing with three consecutive victories. Roman Adamov continues to produce with Alexandr Pavlenko a consistent force going forward. Rostov's lone absence is Dragan Blatnjak and Nalchik should expect their hosts to be patient and unwilling to expose themselves in the counter.

Nalchik is undoubtedly one of the season's great surprises and at the root of their success is the work of David Siradze and Vladimir Dyadyun. Nalchik's counter attacks have wreaked havoc on many this year with those two particularly dangerous. Manager Yuriy Krasnozhan has a fully fit line-up available to him and knows that a victory would propel his side to second and continue their push towards the Champions League.

Prepared by John Davies
... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!

LOKOMOTIV WELCOMES SPARTAK IN MOSCOW DERBY

On Sunday, of week seventeen of the Championship of Russia all eyes will be poised on the final match of the day as Spartak visits Lokomotiv in a Moscow Derby of epic proportion.

The day kicks off with Alaniya Vladikavkaz versus relegation threatened Amkar Perm. Alaniya shocked Nalchik last week with manager Vladimir Shevchuk deploying a much more attack minded set. Amkar is in the midst of a four-match losing streak and only a point above Krylya Sovetov in the relegation zone. Rashid Rakhimov’s anaemic attack needs to find its scoring form but without playmaker Georgiy Peev, out due to injury, their advances have trickled.

Defending champions Rubin Kazan travels to Terek Grozny looking to maintain pressure on the field in pursuit of a Champions League berth. While Zenit possesses a seven-point margin, as well as an additional match to play, Rubin manager Kurban Berdyev has struck gold with the recent signings of former Newcastle striker Oba Martins and Alexey Medvedev. Grozny fell to Rostov last week in a hard fought battle and it is clear that with Blagoy Georgiev their attacking has slowed. Possibly more concerning is the lack of finishing from strikers, forcing Anatoly Baidachny to try a number of combinations.

Of strategic importance CSKA Moscow welcomes Anzhi Makhachkala to Arena Khimki with the Army-Men needing to maintain focus, less then give up more ground in the race. Leonid Slutsky’s new arrivals, Zoran Tosic and Seydou Doumbia, have been brilliant with Vágner Love not missing a beat since returning to the capital. Alan Dzagoev continues to mature into a rising star of the future, particularly from a centralist position but CSKA needs to remain its composure against Anzhi or they will be shocked. Veteran leader Gadzhi Gadzhiev has the Dagestan side in fine form and will deploy a tight, compact stance and look to thwart CSKA’s mercurial attack

In the premier match of the weekend, Spartak visits Lokomotiv in Moscow derby with both sides needing to maintain pace with Nalchik and Rostov for a spot in Europe. Spartak is deeply troubled at eighth in the table but have recently added Nicolás Pareja, from Espanyol and Aiden McGeady from Celtic, with Kirill Kombarov and Dmitriy Kombarov rumoured to be on their way from Dynamo. On the opposite end of the pitch, Lokomotiv mastermind Yuriy Semin welcomes back Oleksandr Aliyev after last week’s abysmal draw against the Samarans. He will be without Tomislav Dujmovic and Dmitriy Torbinski who were both shown red-cards. Both sides are in dire need of a victory, knowing a favourable result could propel their campaign forward, making this derby a heavyweight battle not to be missed.

Prepared by John Davies


... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!

ZENIT VS DYNAMO CLASH HIGHLIGHTS SATURDAY

After an abbreviated schedule last week, the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia returns this weekend with a crucial series of contests in match day seventeen.


While Zenit Saint Petersburg would need a cataclysmic turn of fortune to overturn their undefeated season, slowly the story is turning to Nalchik and Rostov who have moved into the fourth and fifth spots and threatening for a spot in Europe.

The weekend kicks off Saturday as Krylya Sovetov visits Tom Tomsk. The Samaran's have managed three hard earned draws against Spartak, Dynamo and Lokomotiv in successive weeks and under the leadership of Alexandr Tarkhanov, they are beginning to look very much like a side capable of avoiding relegation.

Tom Tomsk are seventh in the table and not given up hopes for Europe. Manager Valeriy Nepomniachi has helped develop Artyom Dzyuba, on-loan from Spartak Moscow, into one of the top young strikers in Russia with the youngster lodging four goals since the break. The Siberian's must expect a tight defending resolve from Krylya Sovetov and they will need to make the most of their opportunities.

In the second match of the day, the Petrovsky faithful welcome Dynamo Moscow as Zenit Saint Petersburg looks to maintain their unbeaten form. Zenit, who saw last weeks pivotal contest against Spartak postponed are ploughing towards the title without seemingly a bump. Under manager Luciano Spalletti, Zenit is composed and since the break has asserted a new-found attacking authority.

Recent additions Bruno Alves, Alexandr Bukharov and Sergey Semak confirm Zenit's lofty goals in Europe and they have rarely looked threatened on the domestic front. Dynamo continues to reshape itself under Miodrag Bozovic with the arrival of Kevin Kurányi and expected departure of Dmitriy and Krill Kombarov. The White-Blue's have looked miserable on the road with a scant win in seven contests and will need to show significantly better finishing against Zenit if they are to return home with points.

Relegation threatened Sibir Novosibirsk travels to face Spartak Nalchik with Igor Kriushenko's side in dire straights after the sale of skipper Alexey Medvedev. Without the clubs leading goal scorer, the likes of Igor Shevchenko and Alexandr Antipenko will need to come up big. Yuriy Krasnozhan's Nalchik side is improbably within two points of a Champions League spot but in need of a response after Alaniya Vladikavkaz upset them last week. Undefeated at home, Vladimir Dyadyun has emerged as an attacking tour de force and at the root of Nalchik’s attacking success.

In the final match of the day Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast welcomes Rostov in an unexpected battle of epic proportions. The Ramenskoe-based side is the hottest in the league, whilst Rostov is staring down the gullet of a spot in Europe. Likewise, with four consecutive victories Andrey Gordeev's men has not only pushed aside relegation worries but with striking distance of a European berth. Both sides have shown recently an up-tempo form and the contest harkens to be a fast- paced affair.

Prepared by John Davies


... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!

ZENIT WELCOME UNIREA TO PETROVSKY

Following an opening leg scoreless draw in Romania, Zenit Saint Petersburg welcome Unirea Urziceni to Petrovsky in the deciding match of their Champions League third qualifying round.


Zenit, who continued their unbeaten start to the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia with an empowering 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan and growing in confidence. Under manager Luciano Spalletti, Zenit is transforming into a side that can play at the heights of Europe and the additions of Alexandr Bukharov and Bruno Alves will only further their goals.

In the opening leg of the tie, the match was relatively even until Răzvan Pădureţu was sent off with a straight red-card before the break. The second half saw Zenit dominate much of the run of the play but the Romanian hosts were resolute in the final third and were able to hold out for the scoreless draw.

Against Rubin, the Italian tactician juggled his line-up with Danko Lazović sitting out and likely to see a prominent role on Wednesday evening. Zenit will need to show greater attacking inspiration and finishing if they are to beat goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis.

They should expect Unirea Urziceni manager Mihai Stoica to deploy a defending rich approach with great patience. Unirea has played two consecutive scoreless draws to open the Liga 1 campaign, including Saturday’s contest against Rapid Bucureşti and will likely keep the same compact approach and look to counter on Zenit's exposure.


Prepared by John Davies

... but nothing matches the thrill and challenge of having money on the line!