We have prepared some of the potential highlights to keep an eye on this coming matchday in the Russian Premier Liga. 

Capital gains: Moscow derby key in Europa League battle

From a seemingly commanding hold on a top-five finish, CSKA Moscow enter the derby against city rivals Dynamo with the control over their continental destiny on the line. After Dynamo had their fixture against FC Krasnodar postponed last weekend due to some players testing positive for coronavirus they now have a game in hand on CSKA; win that, as well as the derby this weekend, and they will leapfrog the Armymen.

CSKA were torn apart 4-0 by Zenit and need to regroup quickly. After the game Arnor Sigurdsson told the club’s CSKA TV channel that the players felt a responsibility for the result. “I just want to say sorry to the fans, it wasn’t acceptable how we played. We can be upset tonight, but we have to start thinking about the next game.”

Dynamo have wildly contrasting form to CSKA. They have won five of their last seven RPL matches, whereas their visitors are currently on their longest winless streak in the Russian to flight for over 17 years. Add to that the heavy defeat last weekend against league leaders Zenit, injuries to Ilzat Akhmetov and Alan Dzagoev, suspension to Vadim Karpov, and manager Viktor Goncharenko’s absence due to health problems – Sergey Ovchinnikov will take his place in the dugout at the VTB Arena – and the picture appears to favour Dynamo.

Dynamo’s second team was crowned Youth Championship winners after the youth league was prematurely ended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aleksandr Kulchiy’s young team – which also won the title in 2014 and 2015 under the guidance of current first-team manager Kirill Novikov – have been preparing to step in and play if called upon. 

The top and bottom of it: Champions elect Zenit host bottom club Krylia

With only 21 points left to play for, Zenit St. Petersburg have an imposing nine-point lead over nearest rivals Lokomotiv Moscow. While the top two are among only three teams to remain unbeaten in their last four RPL fixture – the third being FC Sochi – Zenit have racked up 11 goals in their last two games alone. In contrast, Rubin Kazan have only scored three more goals all season.

Even after Sochi’s record-breaking haul in the 10-1 win over FC Rostov last weekend, nobody can rival Zenit’s goalscoring exploits. They are the only side to average over two goals per game. Krylia, meanwhile, have lost all of their last nine fixtures away from home to top-half sides.

Aleksandr Anyukov owes both clubs an enormous amount of gratitude. Having grown up in the Krylia Sovetov academy system, he then spent 14 years at Zenit as a player as he won five RPL titles, the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and two Russian Cups. At the age of 37, and having played 18 times for Krylia in a brief Indian summer to his playing days, he has retired and joined Zenit as a coach.

Up for the Cup: Ural chase Russian Cup glory, but at what cost?

With the final being staged at their home stadium in Ekaterinburg next month, and having lost the final twice in the previous three seasons to Lokomotiv Moscow, FC Ural are understandably determined to land their first ever major piece of silverware. On Wednesday they beat Shinnik Yaroslavl 2-0 in their rearranged Russian Cup quarter-final as they begin a tumultuous run of games.

“I’d wait before talking about the final,” club president Grigoriy Ivanov told Sovetsky Sport. “We still have another match. We are in a difficult position. No one will have as many games as we do. Including the upcoming semi-final against Khimki, Ural will end up playing 10 times before 22 July. It’s a crazy schedule, but we will try to reach the final.”

However, they have only won six times all season in the RPL and are slipping dangerously towards the relegation zone. Newly-promoted FC Tambov stand in their way this weekend after flying back from Wednesday’s 2–0 quarter–final win. Before their agonising added-time defeat to FC Ufa last weekend Tambov actually had the third best record over the previous nine matchdays. 

Relegation battle heating up

Five different teams have occupied the bottom two places over the last four matchdays, making it harder to predict who will end up in the two relegation spots. Krylia are the current incumbents of last place, but could mathematically rise to 13th with an unlikely win away to Zenit. Six points separate the entire bottom half of the table, while even Spartak Moscow in sixth – a position that could qualify for the Europa League – are closer to relegation than the Champions League places in third.

Top of the bottom-half ‘league’ is Arsenal Tula, who have now lost three in a row, while every team below them has avoided defeat in at least two of their last five games. Arsenal must travel to FC Rostov this matchday with their hosts still recovering from a quarantine period enforced by positive coronavirus tests. Win, and they could be back in the driving seat for Europe. Lose, and they must start looking over their shoulders.