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

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