On 5 February, four RPL teams played friendly matches in Turkey and UAE.

FC Khimki 3-1 Volga Ulyanovsk

As a week ago, Khimki played two matches in one day in Belek starting with the game against First League team. The Red-Blacks were trailing since 25th minute, when German Paskin scored for Volga, but Khimki answered with three goals in the second half, two of them were brought by Aleksandr Rudenko.

Akhmat Grozny 2-2 Chayka Peschanokopskoye

Sergey Tashuev met his former team, which he coached since January 2021 to March 2022, in the first match of the day for Akhmat in Turkey. Chayka’s current manager is Igor Semshov, former Russia national team player and two-time RPL bronze medalist. As the game was held behind closed doors, Akhmat scorers were Aleksandr Troshechkin and newcomer Zaim Divanovic, while Denis Gribanov and Svyatoslav Kozhedub got the goals for Second League competitor.

Akhmat Grozny 1-0 FC Khimki

After morning matches Akhmat and Khimki faced each other in Belek, and Gamid Agalarov gave the win for Grozny converting the penalty in the middle of the second half.

Ural Ekaterinburg 1-1 Ararat-Armenia

This was the first of three planned meeting between Russian and Armenian teams in UAE, next two matches will be played both on 18 February. Ural conceded first in the second half and equalized through Silvie Begic.

Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 FC Urartu

The Railwaymen played the final match of the second UAE camp against Urartu, coached by Russian specialist Dmitry Gunko. An own goal caused by Maksim Glushenkov in 14 minutes before the final whistle became the winner for Lokomotiv. Former team captain and RPL champion Vedran Corluka visited the game in Dubai.

Next teams’ friendlies: Monday 6 February – Ural vs Zenit; Saturday 11 February – Akhmat vs Volga, Akhmat vs CSKA; Sunday 12 February – Khimki vs Maktaaral, Khimki vs Dynamo, Lokomotiv vs Ural