What to look out for on Matchday 25

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

Goncharenko returns for CSKA’s second consecutive Moscow derby

Viktor Goncharenko has returned to Moscow after recovering from health concerns in his native Belarus, and will resume duties on the touchline on Tuesday. His return marks the second Moscow derby in a row for the Armymen after they drew 0-0 away to Dynamo Moscow at the weekend; a creditable draw in itself, but one which also extends their winless run to seven league matches.

Jaka Bijol will be unavailable after being sent off within 12 minutes of coming off the bench against Dynamo. There hasn’t been a single red card in the last 10 meetings between these two, but there has rarely been a shortage of action. Six of the last eight encounters have seen both sides score at least once.

Fedor Chalov will be looking to improve his scoring record - having top scored in the RPL last season with 15 goals, he is stuck on five for this campaign after scoring just once in his last 14 league games. 

FC Krasnodar finally return to action for Murad Musaev’s first official game in charge

Despite the best efforts of RPL clubs to adhere to advice regarding the coronavirus pandemic, two matches have not taken place due to quarantine since the league’s return to action. Both fixtures were due to involve FC Krasnodar, meaning Murad Musaev’s side are the only team yet to have played an RPL game since March. Musaev himself has begun his UEFA Pro License course and was officially named head coach two weeks ago, although he has worked at the club at youth and senior levels for many years. 

With most of FC Rostov’s senior squad back in action having served their 14-day quarantine, this southern rivalry will be resumed with near-full strength teams. Both sides are competing for a Champions League place; Valeriy Karpin’s men currently occupying the final place to qualify for UEFA’s flagship club competition, but only by virtue of their head-to-head record against FC Krasnodar. 

Pavel Mamaev starred for the Bulls for six years, but has already hit the ground running at the Rostov Arena with two goals in his first two appearances.

Andrey Talalaev debut as Krylia Sovetov manager

Miodrag Bozovic was relieved of his duties by the Krylia board of directors this week after overseeing the team’s descent to the bottom of the RPL table. The Montenegrin manager has taken charge of seven RPL clubs - the others being  Amkar Perm, FC Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, FC Rostov, Lokomotiv Moscow and Arsenal Tula - but has been unable to arrest Krylia’s slide towards relegation.

Andrey Talalaev has taken over with a tough assignment straight up: away to second-placed Lokomotiv. Talalaev spent four years coaching various Russia youth teams, where he guided the likes of Oleg Shatov, Lokomotiv’s on-loan striker Fedor Smolov, Maksim Belyaev, Dmitri Poloz and current Krylia centre-back Taras Burlak.