Preview: Russian Premier League. Matchday 16

Two Russian championship matchdays per week create a concentration of football that is well over the norm. Neither the players, nor the coaches, nor the fans, nor even the police would be able to last out in this tempo for a long time. On Sunday the Premier League will have its last matchday before a long break. For at least a month nobody will shoot flares, set chairs on fire, throw fruits at anyone, or poke people with electric shockers. Head of the Disciplinary Committee Alu Alkhanov will go to business trips – that always make him unaware of what is happening – with his soul in peace, while Russian FA president Sergey Fursenko will take his high-flown charters to be signed at some regions.

Perhaps, CSKA will be the ones to benefit the least from the break: the Red Army club is now on a winning streak and seems to have a lot of strength left. In Matchday 16 the team of Leonid Slutsky will play away at Amkar. In the third derby for a week Dynamo will play Lokomotiv, who only managed to beat Spartak Nalchik since Yury Krasnozhan’s dismissal. The Kabardin club will definitely go for the break being in the relegation zone, while Krylia Sovetov have a chance to get higher, as the too worst teams of the championship’s first part will play each other.

Match of the day

Dynamo Moscow – Lokomotiv Moscow. Three a half months ago these clubs played each other – not knowing that by June they will be transformed beyond recognition. The White-and-Blues sacked Miodrag Bozovic and confided in Sergey Silkin, while the Railwaymen parted company with Yury Krasnozhan despite a good start.

Now Lokomotiv are in depression once again. Perhaps, the first two months of the tournament were their best for the last five years. On weekend their interim head coach Vladimir Maminov will play his third successive derby, having suffered defeats in the previous two. With all the support from the fans he has another loss at the hands of a close opponent will have to tell on his future. Rumor has it, the club has already begun reflecting on the candidates. Therefore, Lokomotiv are the ones to need a win more on Sunday – and it seems that only the feeling of increased responsibility can save them.

Worth having a look

Rubin Kazan – Kuban Krasnodar. It is now clear that the team of Dan Petrescu just don’t have enough strength to go the whole road smoothly. Kuban failed to keep up with the leaders, though after a powerful start they were expected to contend for a Europa League berth. Now they have already suffered three defeats in a row – and one more is ahead, quite probably. Their goal difference is close to becoming negative, and Lacina Traore stopped scoring goals.

One should not forget that even in their best conditions Kuban lost to Rubin in the first game. If the Krasnodar-based club fail to find the strength and take points in Kazan their brilliant start will have no sense, and Kuban will see themselves lingering among the likes of Amkar, Tom, and Terek in the middle of the table.

Duel

In the first game between Rostov and Spartak Roman Adamov found the Red-and-Whites’ net twice and made one assist. Since then, the Rostov forward didn’t score doubles and didn’t score much in general. On Sunday Roman will go to Luzniki Stadium to put his goalscoring statistics right, while Spartak goalkeeper Andrey Dikan will try to prevent him from that.

Keep an eye on

There were a lot of scandals and subsequent penalties in first third of the most unusual championship in Russian history. But the most severe decision of the Disciplinary Committe went unnoticed. FC Krasnodar administrator Nurbiy Khakunov got a six-match ban for pushing the fourth official. It scares to imagine what the referee without a whistle or even a flag could have done wrong.

Bet of the day

CSKA will beat Amkar way at Perm (bookmakers’ odds – 1.5). Probably, by a large margin. In case of a success the Moscow-based team was even promised to have a longer holiday.

Quote

Zenit forward Alexander Bukharov, earlier reported to spent too much time playing cards, told the club’s official webiste about Internet gambling: «I stopped playing poker long ago, I just don’t have time for it». However, speaking about leisure in the same interview he conceded: «During the last half a year I just come home after training and don’t go anywhere – try to stay at home all the time».

Figure

Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev spent 100 matches in the Russian league without a conceded goal.

Tom Tomsk – Volga Nizhny Novgorod

June 26. Trud Stadium (Tomsk), 14.15 MSK.

Referee: Alexander Yegorov (Saransk).

Injuries: Klimov, Tigorev / Gaal, Plesan, Khodzhava, Yashin.

Suspensions: none.

Tom (Sports.ru version): Pesyakov – Gultyaev, Sabitov, Jokic, Skoblyakov – Golyshev, Kim, Balyaikin, Bazhenov – Starikov, Kanunnikov.

Volga (Sports.ru version): Abaev – Salukvadze, Bendz, Grigalava, Getigezhev – Tursunov, Adzhindzhal, Crosas, Gogua – Vatsadze, Khazov.

First round match: 0:2.

Last matches: – = = – = / – + – – -

Odds by Marathon Betting: Tom – 1.72, draw – 3.65, Volga – 4.95.

Amkar Perm – CSKA Moscow

June 26. Zvezda Stadium (Perm), 16.30 MSK.

Referee: Michael Vilkov (Nizhny Novgorod).

Injuries: Narubin, Topchu / M. Gonzalez, Shchennikov, Necid.

Suspensions: Sirakov, Mijajlovic / Vagner Love.

Amkar (Sports.ru version): Khamutovsky – Cherenchikov, Belorukov, Popov, Fedoriv – Peev, Kolomeitsev, Novakovic, Grishin – Volkov, Ristic.

CSKA (Sports.ru version): Akinfeev – Nababkin, Ignashevich, V. Berezutsky, A. Berezutsky – Honda, Mamaev, Aldonin, Dzagoev, Tosic – Doumbia.

First round match: 0:2.

Last matches: + – + = + / = + + + +

Odds by Marathon Betting: Amkar – 7.6, draw – 4.3, CSKA – 1.5.

Zenit St. Petersburg – Terek Grozny

June 26. Petrovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg), 18.45 MSK.

Referee: Vladimir Kazmenko (Rostov-on-Don).

Injuries: Shirokov, Bystrov / Essame, Edilov, Ediev.

Suspensions: Lukovic / Utsiev.

Zenit (Sports.ru version): Maalfeev – Anyukov, Lombaerts, B. Alves, Hubocan – Zyryanov, Semak, Denisov – Danny, Kerzhakov, Lazovic.

Terek (Sports.ru version): Dzhanaev – Yatchenko, Ferreira, Omelyanchuk, Zengue – Georgiev, Mauricio, Pavlenko, Gvazava – Bracamonte, Asildarov.

First round match: 1:0.

Last matches: + = + + + / = – – + +

Odds by Marathon Betting: Zenit – 1.22, draw – 6.7, Terek – 16.

Krylia Sovetov Samara – Spartak Nalchik

June 26. Metallurg Stadium (Samara), 18.45 MSK.

Referee: Alexei Yeskov (Moscow).

Injuries: Joseph-Reinette, Kuznetsov, Molosh, Ponomarenko / Djudovic, Jovanovic, Pomazan, Ovsienko, Berkhamov.

Suspensions: none.

Krylia Sovetov (Sports.ru version): M’Bolhi – Tsallagov, Taranov, Djordjevic, Novitsky – Samsonov, Sosnin, DiChiara, Yeliseyev – Pecnik, Savin.

Spartak Nalchik (Sports.ru version): Fredrikson – Bagaev, Kulikov, Lukachenkov, Lebedev – Leandro, Kontsedalov, Zahirovic, Siradze – Portnyagin, Goshokov.

First round match: 0:1.

Last matches: = – + – – / = – – – -

Odds by Marathon Betting: Krylia Sovetov – 2.26, draw – 3.2, Spartak – 3.65.

Rubin Kazan – Kuban Krasnodar

June 26. Tsentralny Stadium (Kazan), 18.45 MSK.

Referee: Igor Yegorov (Nizhny Novgorod).

Injuries: Carlos Eduardo, Orekhov, Dyadyun, Kaleshin, Arlauskis, Zhestokov / Zhilyaev, Tsoraev.

Suspensions: Karadeniz / none.

Rubin (Sports.ru version): Ryzhikov – Kuzmin, Bocchetti, C. Navas, Ansaldi – Kasaev, Natkho, Bystrov – Kislyak, Medvedev, Lebedenko.

Kuban (Sports.ru version): Budakov – Kozlov, Armas, Zelao, Zhavnerchik – Varga, Ne, Tlisov, Kulik, Maximov – Davydov.

First round match: 2:0.

Last matches: + = + + + / = + – – -

Odds by Marathon Betting: Rubin – 1.35, draw – 4.85, Kuban – 11.8.

FC Krasnodar – Anzhi Makhachkala

June 26. Kuban Stadium (Krasnodar), 21.00 MSK.

Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (St. Petersburg).

Injuries: Shipitsin, Picusceac, Drincic / Lakhiyalov, Boussoufa, Jucilei, Tardelli.

Suspensions: Vranjes / none.

Krasnodar (Sports.ru version): Gorodov – Markov, Amisulashvili, Martynovich, Andjelkovic – Tatarchuk, Kulchiy, Marcio, Vorobyov, Joaozinho – Movsisyan.

Anzhi (Sports.ru version): Revishvili – Angbwa, Tagirbekov, Joao Carlos, Agalarov – Ahmedov, Roberto Carlos, A. Ivanov – M. Gadzhiev, Holenda, Prudnikov.

First round match: 0:0.

Last matches: – + + + – / + + – = +

Odds by Marathon Betting: Krasnodar – 1.92, draw – 3.2, Anzhi – 2.66.

Spartak Moscow – Rostov Rostov-on-Don

June 26. Luznhiki Stadium (Moscow), 21.00 MSK.

Referee: Sergey Lapochkin (St. Petersburg)

Injuries: McGeady, Bryzgalov, Makeev, Sheshukov, Ibson / Boussaidi, Yankov, Lejsal, Radic, Salata, Kirichenko.

Suspensions: none / Okoronkwo, Cesnauskis.

Spartak (Sports.ru version): Dikan – K. Kombarov, S. Rodriguez, Parshivlyuk, Kudryashov – Ananidze, Makhmudov, R. Carioca, D. Kombarov – Welliton, Dzyuba.

Rostov (Sports.ru version): Kochenkov – Khagush, Zivanovic, Proshin, Khokhlov – Kalachyov, Rebko, Gatcan, Malyaka, Blatnjak – Adamov.

First round match: 0:4.

Last matches: – = = + – / = – – – =

Odds by Marathon Betting: Spartak – 1.4, draw – 4.8, Rostov – 9.2.

Dynamo Moscow – Lokomotiv Moscow

June 26. Arena Khimki (Khimki), 21.00 MSK.

Referee: Almir Kayumov (Moscow).

Injuries: none / Amelchenko, Tarasov.

Suspensions: none.

Dynamo (Sports.ru version): Shunin – Wilkshire, L. Fernandez, Granat, Lomic – Samedov, Sapeta, Semshov, Kokorin – Voronin, Kuranyi.

Lokomotiv (Sports.ru version): Guilherme – Shishkin, Burlak, Durica, Yanbaev – Ignatiev, Ozdoev, Loskov, Glushakov, Torbinsky – Maicon.

First round match: 2:3.

Last matches: + = – + + / – = + – -

Odds by Marathon Betting: Dynamo – 2.1, draw – 3.45, Lokomotiv – 3.8.