We have looked ahead to the upcoming matchday 28 fixtures in the Russian Premier Liga to bring you the key storylines to look out for.

Krylia Sovetov Samara vs Dynamo Moscow: Dynamo spinning out of control?

With the final nail driven into the coffin of Dynamo’s dwindling title hopes last weekend as Zenit wrapped up a remarkable fourth consecutive championship, Sandro Schwarz’s men have one last challenge facing them this season: dredge up their last ounces of motivation to secure a best league finish since 1994. Two consecutive defeats for both sides might not augur well for a free-flowing brand of quality, but there is still plenty of history between the two.

In fact, Krylia Sovetov have faced the Muscovites more than any other side in all competitions. They are both among only seven clubs to accumulate over 1,000 points in Russian top-flight football. No other side has lost more league games to Krylia since the end of the Soviet Union than Dynamo either, while the Samara side have only scored more Russian top-flight goals against Rostov than they have against Dynamo.

Securing a top-half finish might not carry much specific weight or honour, but psychologically it would be a real boost for Krylia Sovetov heading into this summer’s pre-season. For Dynamo, there are more immediate and pressing concerns as they head into a Russian Cup semi-final next midweek against second-tire Alania Vladikavkaz. They haven’t lost three consecutive league games since September 2019, and although it won’t affect their RPL fortunes it would be a damaging dent in their assault on silverware.

As it turns out then, there is a lot more riding on this fixture than might appear obvious at first glance. If Alania can summon the mental fortitude to score twice and knock out RPL champions Zenit in the quarter-finals, they can be assured of respect facing the next best side the top flight has to offer. Were heads to drop again, the unthinkable for Dynamo would become loom worryingly closer to reality.

Ural Ekaterinburg vs Spartak Moscow: Fearless Ural sense Spartak scalp

It is incredible how cathartic two matches can be in the Russian Premier Liga, especially when a club legend sparks into mercurial form. After matchday 25 Ural had dropped into the automatic relegation spots as Khimki and Ufa continued their upturns in fortunes, but three goals in two games from Eric Bicfalvi, a stunning 3-2 win away to Dynamo Moscow and a victorious six-pointer against Ufa later, and ural have wrestled control of their destiny back into their own hands.

As inconceivable as it seems, they could even feasibly finish above Spartak in the table. A third RPL win in a row this weekend would close the gap between the two sides to four points, with Spartak still to face champions Zenit and in-form Khimki away. Of far more urgency. Of course, is securing RPL safety for another campaign; beating the Red-Whites would leave Ufa and Arsenal needing to win all remaining matches to have a chance of staying up, and could see Ural climb out of the relegation playoff zone altogether.

The sheer unbridled euphoria that exploded from Paolo Vanoli last weekend as a late Aleksandr Sobolev winner secured the win against Krylia Sovetov was quite something as he raced to celebrate with his players. There’s no question this season has been a huge disappointment in the RPL league table for a club of Spartak’s stature - they are still short of their lowest points total in the last two decades - so the passionate outpouring of emotion was as understandable as it was important.

An epic Russian Cup showdown against historic rivals Dynamo potentially beckons of both Spartak and the Blue-Whites make it past lower-league opponents next midweek, so all is not lost for this campaign. Whisper it very quietly though - Vanoli’s side are still not mathematically certain of avoiding relegation. Slip up against a confident Ural scrapping for their own top-flight status, and they will have serious pressure on them.

Ufa vs Rostov: Great entertainers in the Bashkortostan Lions’ Den

How different are Ufa and Rostov? On paper one could reel off a whole list of evidence separating them. Rostov sit pretty in mid-table with a strong chance of a top-half finish; Ufa are facing down the barrel of the relegation gun in 15th, four points from possible safety. Rostov may have lost last time out in their heated local clash against Krasnodar, but previously had won four straight games; Ufa haven’t won in four. Rostov have only been outscored by the top three, with more goals in their matches for and against than anyone; Ufa are the joint-second lowest scorers with less than a goal scored per game.

There is no chance that Valery Karpin will stroll down to Ufa assuming a comfortable victory, though. Ufa have only lost once in their last seven home RPL fixtures, while none of Zenit, CSKA, Krasnodar or Lokomotiv have beaten them there. While they have been extremely tough to beat, they have struggled to convert a solid defensive platform into a meaningful cutting edge, having won just once in their last 14 matches. 

By the time these two kick off, one more rival in the dogfight could be all but clear of danger if Ural beat Spartak on Saturday. That result would only ramp up the pressure to not just grind out another draw but go for broke and attack Rostov. It might not be the worst ploy anyway; Rostov have leaked more goals than anyone bar Rubin and Arsenal, and have managed only a single clean sheet in the last 15 RPL matches.

Whichever direction both sides decide on, the chances are this will not be a dull goalless draw. Both teams have scored in 11 of Rostov’s last 12 away matches, while they last kept out a hosting opponent over a year ago. Despite Rostov’s good form they still need at least one more win to mathematically ensure they avoid the relegation picture. The question is, will that motivation be enough to combat Ufa’s survival instincts?

Lokomotiv Moscow vs Rubin Kazan: Shell-shocked Rubin derailed?

On Wednesday Lokomotiv traveled down south to complete a postponed Matchday 19 fixture against Krasnodar with little left on their plate other than slip into the summer and regroup for next season, but walked into a tough battle as the nine-man hosts came out on top 1-0. Konstantin Maradishvili was sent off too as the Railroaders trundled back to the capital, but there was the bright spark of Anton Miranchuk and Francois Kamano appearing after considerable injury issues for both.

After four away games in the last five league fixtures yielding just one point, it hasn’t been the most productive period to close out the campaign to say the least. At home however, they have proven ruthless against those battling relegation, beating the last three bottom-six opposition to visit the RZD Arena.

Rubin have so many tasks to accomplish, not least their own only too real fears of the drop. Last weekend they slumped to a 6-0 defeat at home to Sochi - their second six-goal defeat in six RPL matches - to leave them with the second-worst defensive record in the whole league. Now in the relegation playoff zone, they are just seven points off Arsenal Tula, who they face on the last day, at the very foot of the table. Next weekend they travel to Ural Ekaterinburg, who by that point could already have leapfrogged them.

In the last seven games Rubin have managed just six goals, and only two in the last four. Losing all but three of the last 12 league matches has inevitably plunged them into a downward spiral on paper; to drag them out of it, they must summon up every ounce of character.