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

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PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK 15 PREDICTIONS

Today weekend predictions are made by former Spartak Moscow forward Valeriy Reingold and sport press journalist Pavel Aleshin.


Saturn vs. Anzhi

Expert predictions: 2:0 After the break Saturn has definitely improved. The players started to run and the team acquired nice play.

Sport press predictions: 2:0 Saturn is superior over any opponent even CSKA after the summer break. And Anzhi will hardly have the same good luck in Ramenskoe as they had in the match against Terek.

Spartak Nalchik vs. Amkar

Expert predictions: 2:0 In the match against CSKA Nalchik impressed me a lot. They show active football in contrast to Amkar.

Sport press predictions: 2:0 Both teams have well-formed play with the only difference that Nalchik has it to the goal and Perm only to the box.

Zenit vs. Rubin

Expert predictions: 1:0 If Zenit wins we can finish the championship. I mean that the golden medals will have its owners. Still I prefer Saint Petersburg who play aggressively and disciplined. I do not think Rubin will be able to hold thanks to their defensive line.

Sport press predictions: 0:0 The defence of Rubin is probably the only one that Zenit will not be able to open.

Terek vs. Alaniya

Expert predictions: 1:0 Though Terek’s play is not smooth one can easily see their potentials. And it is a home game after the loss to Anzhi.

Sport press predictions: 2:1 Grozny club should outscore Alaniya after the undeserved defeat to Anzhi.

Dynamo vs. Krylya Sovetov

Expert predictions: 3:0 I predict big victory of Dynamo not because the Moscow club plays so well but because Krylya show nothing.

Sport press predictions: 2:0 The surge of emotions caused by the debut of the new head of Krylya Alexandr Tarkhanov will be annulled with the debut of Kevin Kuranyi in Dynamo. In other aspects Muscovites are stronger than Samara.

Spartak vs. CSKA

Expert predictions: 0:1 Of course the current CSKA is not much stronger than Spartak as it used to be some time ago but nevertheless the class of the Army men is higher. What can Spartak oppose? Only desire and fight. But there are not many fighters among the Red-White squad at the moment.

Sport press predictions: 3:1 The quantity of missed opportunities is so great in Spartak that according to a mathematical law the converting percentage should rise. Moreover Spartak seemed to have found their game while CSKA dozed off in the abnormally hot Moscow.

Lokomotiv vs. Rostov

Expert predictions: 2:0 Lokomotiv has many problems in away matches but in Moscow they play nicely and effectively. Rostov simply has nothing to oppose to the Railway men.

Sport press predictions: 2:1 Lokomotiv should retain its minimum after the break – two scored goals. But Rostov will also see a consolation goal.

Tom vs. Sibir

Expert predictions: 0:0 The teams are absolutely equal. Maybe Tom is more experienced but Sibir showed its character recently and it can do it in Tomsk as well.

Sport press predictions: 3:2 Tom should do well in the match with one of the outsiders. But Sibir usually does not end up goalless.


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MOSCOW DERBY HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY PROGRAM

On Sunday, Luzhniki is the stage for the great Moscow derby between Spartak and CSKA with both sides needing to find their winning form after disappointing last week.


Spartak Moscow - CSKA Moscow

Valeriy Karpin’s side was held by Krylya Sovetov to a scoreless draw with the Zhano Ananidze led attack, lacking finishing power. Spartak’s season is limping through some difficult times and will greater resolve going forward, presumably with Alex to return in spearheading the attack.

Leonid Slutsky CSKA’s line-up lacked a cutting side against Nalchik last week and consistently out worked. CSKA face a number of personnel issues with young striker Guilherme returning to Dynamo Kyiv after the clubs were unable to reach an agreement. To add to CSKA’s problems, Keisuke Honda is rumoured to be out of favour with the manager, hence why he was left out of last week’s starting grid and Miloš Krasić, desperate for a move to Juventus, has shown little recent play.

Lokomotiv Moscow – Rostov

Yuriy Semin’s Railwaymen looked to be in route to an away victory before Sibir Novosibirsk staged a stunning second half comeback. Oleksandr Aliyev continues to dominate with his thunderous boot but Lokomotiv will need to show greater defending composure than last week. Maicon and Dmitriy Sychev have the makings of a solid attacking duo with Wágner supplying his playmaking vision. Rostov manager Oleh Protasov has his side within striking distance of a European spot but faces a massive challenge in Lokomotiv home grounds where their hosts has lost only once since Yuriy Semin’s return in May 2009.

Tom Tomsk – Sibir Novosibirsk

On Monday, action in week fifteen concludes with a Siberian derby as Tom Tomsk welcomes Sibir Novosibirsk. Valeriy Nepomnyaschy’s Tomsk has faltered since the break with off with three consecutive losses since the break and lacking in the defending end. Sibir were triumphant in the Europa League.

Manager Igor Kriushenko has a tough series of selection decision we with the second leg of their tie against Apollon on Thursday, they may be forced into changes.

Prepared by John Davies

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PREMIER LEAGUE DAY 15 KICKS OFF TODAY

Premier League Matchday 15 kicks off today with Anzhi traveling to Moscow region and Spartak Nalchik welcoming Amkar.


Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast - Anzhi Makhachkala

On Friday, the action kicks off as Andrey Gordeev's Ramenskoe based side welcome Anzhi Makhachkala after lodging two consecutive wins have climbed out the relegation zone. Lead by an inspired effort by veterans Dmitriy Kirichenko and Denis Boyarintsev, Saturn which looked set for the drop have turned the campaign around.

Veteran leader Gadzhi Gadzhiev has Anzhi running on all cylinders, claiming three consecutive win including last weeks against Terek Grozny that came via David Tsorayev’s last winner.

Spartak Nalchik - Amkar Perm

Rashid Rakhimov’s Amkar Perm was edged by Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast via an early goal by Denis Boyarintsev but otherwise the Red-Black’s showed quality intent. In the latter stages, Amkar's Vitaliy Grishin narrowly missed scoring the leveller as his effort from just outside the area drifted a whisper wide of the right post.

Nalchik shocked CSKA last week, throwing the championship race completely into Zenit’s hands. Yuriy Krasnozhan has a full side available including Dmitriy Belorukov, who returns from suspension.

Prepared by John Davies

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SLUTSKY EYES SUNDAY DERBY AGAINST SPARTAK

CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky shares his point of view on the coming Moscow derby between his team and Spartak, which will be held at Luzhniki stadium on Sunday.


"Sometimes I think that beating Spartak is the most significant thing for CSKA fans and that would agree on dropout of Premier League even easier than on losing to our most uncompromising competitors", Slutsky said.

"Our acquisitions have been planed long time ago. We signed Doumbia in winter so we perfectly knew that he would join our squad".

"Transfer work is always in progress, however there are no players, who are close to signing contracts with us. I count on services of those players who took part in our trainings and Vagner Love is one of them".

"In his case everything depends on emotional background of the match. If the game is favourable for us, it can give Vagner Love additional strength".

"It’s hard to assess his current form, because I haven’t worked with him before and I have nothing to compare with. Our tests show that he is 70-80% ready now".

"Honda looked not well in the match in Samara, and tests showed that he hadn’t fully recovered from the World Cup and we decided to give him a break and prepare the player for the big game with Spartak. That is why Honda missed our clash with Spartak Nalchik".

"In general World Cup participants were exhausted, because this tournament requires their physical strength and energy and it definitely tells on players’ form".

"The World Championship ended some time ago, but it’s evident that players, who took part in it, haven’t restored their best conditions".

"On Sunday we will play a special game, which is very important for both sides. Besides it is the most significant derby of our country, teams will need to earn points".

"I came up against Spartak when I worked in different teams, won four matches and lost one game in nine meetings. Of course I would be glad to improve my personal statistics, but I understand that previous successes don’t guarantee positive results in future".

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BOZOVIC: THERE IS NOTHING BAD IN OUR LOSS

Dynamo head coach Miodrag Bozovic is not going to make a tragedy out of his team’s loss to Rubin.

"It was only our blame for the first conceded goal, and in this case it’s hard to talk about painful loss", Bozovic said. " Nevertheless I have no claims to my players, because they were fighting on the field".

"As for the episode with non-awarded penalty shot for challenge of Kokorin, it’s hard to say whether it was right decision or not. Maybe it will be difficult to see on the videotape whether the opponent violated the rules, while the referee has to make decisions immediately, so I don’t blame him".

"Rubin was weakened by several selection problems since Bukharov moved to Zenit, Noboa was suspended and several other players were inured, but even taking into account these losses Kazan side has many other strong players".

"Sibaya played instead of Noboa, and I think there is no significant difference between them. One of them is more focused on defence, while the other is concentrated on attack, but they are both real professionals. To my mind Semak is one of the best players in Russia. We also had some troubles, which are not important at all now".

"I had only one striker for this match – Kokorin, because Voronin is out with a slight injury. However I don’t regret that we loaned Smolov to Feyenoord, as he had a lot of chances to show himself and be with the team. Anyway I think that absence of strikers is not the main reason of our defeat".

"I liked the first half of this match, since we controlled the game before the break. I don’t know why we failed the opening 10-15 minutes of the second half".

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ZENIT REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH WIN OVER ROSTOV

Week fourteen of the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia commenced on Saturday with Zenit Saint Petersburg extended its unbeaten form, laying further pressure on the field to stay abreast of their charge.


Alaniya Vladikavkaz - Tom Tomsk 2:1

The weekend got underway with Alaniya Vladikavkaz coming from the behind to defeat visiting Tom Tomsk 2-1.

Following their disheartening loss to Lokomotiv Moscow, Vladimir Shevchuk made four changes to his Alaniya line-up, bringing in Yuriy Kirillov, former CSKA Sofia-man Ivan Stoyanov, Boris Rotenberg and Ibrahim Gnanou. Valeriy Nepomnyaschy, who saw his side run roughshod by Anzhi last week, moved Artyom Dzyuba to the bench and brought in Georgiy Dzhioev and Kim Nam-Ilas he went with Belarusian international Sergey Kornilenko as the lone striker up top.

The match began with a well-disciplined start as neither side wanted to give up too much space. A morsel shy of the quarter-hour, Tomsk drew first blood as Ibrahim Gnanou brought down by Sergey Kornilenko as the striker surged into the area on the left channel, resulting in match day referee Maxim Layushkin adjudging a penalty. The Belarusian striker calmly stepped up and drilled the ball into the back of the net to give Tomsk the 1-0 lead.

After the restart, Alaniya began to probe with greater effectiveness and at the fifty-ninth minute Alexandr Marenich latched onto a long ball before surging into the area on the left channel and rocketing his effort in from twelve metres. Within two minutes, Valeriy Nepomnyaschy summoned Artyom Dzyuba into the Tomsk line-up with Andrey Ivanov coming shortly thereafter but with twenty minutes remaining, Alaniya notched the winning goal as Ibrahim Gnanou heading in a corner from the right. The balance of the contest was completely in Alaniya's favour as they laid claim to the full three points with a 2-1 victory.

Rostov - Zenit Saint Petersburg 1:3

Top to the table Zenit Saint Petersburg continued its recent upsurge with an assuring 3-1 victory over host Rostov.

The Italian tactician, ahead his sides opening Champions League qualifier against Romania's Unirea Urziceni on Tuesday, made four changes to his most recent lineup. Former FC Moscow man Yuriy Zhevnov made his first start in a league match for Zenit as Vyacheslav Malafeev away tending to personal matters, along with Viktor Faitzulin, Fernando Meira and Alessandro Rosina.

Behind the support of their voracious supporters, Oleh Protasov's side, after an early advance by Zenit, began to press forward with Alexandru Gaţcan testing Yuriy Zhevnov from the edge of the area. Rostov was holding Zenit back but just before the break, Alessandro Rosina surged down the right channel and sent a cross to the back-post as he approached the dead-ball line that Alexandr Kerzhakov turned in for the 1-0 lead.

At the re-start, Oleh Protasov ushered Alexandr Pavlenko in for Dmitriy Akimov but only five minutes in Zenit extended the lead when Danny latched on the long ball before scoring from the edge of the area. Zenit continued their onslaught and with twenty minutes remaining, went in front 3-0 as Danny, via a flanking long ball on the left, cross for Viktor Faitzulin who scored his first goal of the campaign from ten metres. As time ticked down, match day referee Alexandr Kolobaev assessing a penalty when Alexandr Anyukov brought down Igor Lebedenko was brought down in the area. In the ensuing effort, Igor Lebedenko drove the ball to the bottom right corner for the consolation marker, with Zenit Saint Petersburg claiming the 3-1 victory.

Rubin Kazan - Dynamo Moscow 2:0

Rubin Kazan maintained pace with league leaders Zenit Saint Petersburg with a 2-0 victory over visiting Dynamo Moscow, in a match that marked the debut the White-Blues highly promising young attacker Irakli Logua.

Kurban Berdyev’s Rubin Kazan side, awaiting the debut of former Newcastle striker Oba Martin's and without Alexandr Bukharov for the first time since his move to Zenit, summoned Petr Bystrov, Macbeth Sibaya and Rafal Murawski into the starting eleven. Miodrag Božović adjusted his Dynamo line-up with Alexandr Kokorin coming in for Andriy Voronin who suffered an injury in pre-match warm-up and Aleksey Rebko. After a quiet opening half whether neither side able to post a noteworthy effort, Rubin took the lead five minutes shy of the hour as on fast counter Alan Kasaev surged into the right side of the area before sending the ball into the roof of the net from six metres out. Only nine minutes later, the goal scorer added his second of the evening as he surged worked his way off the left flank, out manoeuvring three Dynamo defenders before sending a booming effort from just outside the area into the back of the net. With twenty-one minutes remaining, Miodrag Božović introduced attacker Irakli Logua in for his debut of the top flight and though the teen phenom did not have an impact, he is name to watch in the future. Through the balance of time, Rubin limited Dynamo's advances, in route to a 2-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies for Sport Express

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