Preview: Russian Premier League. Matchday 18

As the Russian league is gathering its way after a month-long break, this week also saw two European duels involving Rubin Kazan and Alania Vladikavkaz. While the latter still languish in First Division after last year’s relegation, the former will play the central game of the matchday against Anzhi Makhachkala, who only dream about the European cups.

Spartak Moscow have released Ibson and have presented Demy de Zeeuw instead. Now the nine-time champions will host Kuban Krasnodar at Luzhniki. Dmitry Loskov and Denis Glushakov will pay a friendly visit to their native Rostov Oblast with Lokomotiv Moscow. Preparing for the game against Terek, Tom is testing Romanian midfielders and an experienced Russian.

The chairman of the supervisory board of Dynamo Moscow suggests jailing people for fixed matches, while his club seeks revenge against Volga after being thrashed by them in the first leg. CSKA Moscow go to Krasnodar, Zenit takes on Spartak Nalchik, while Samara’s Metallurgist Stadium will see local Krylia Sovetov play Amkar Perm without the disqualified Ivan Taranov and Andrey Sekretov.

Match of the day

Rubin Kazan – Anzhi Makhachkala. On Tuesday Rubin have earned an unexpectedly comfortable «plus two» from the Champions League away leg of the 3rd qualifying round, bringing into question the future of the Ukrainian vice-champions Dynamo Kyiv in Europe’s main club tournament. Rubin are now once again dubbed a «coach’s team», Kurban Berdiyev’s tactics cause admiration, while the public reserves Alan Kasayev a place in the national team. Now Rubin’s objective is to get recovered quickly and to keep its leaders protected on Saturday ahead of the Wednesday’s second leg against Dynamo Kyiv. Kurban Berdiyev has plenty of experience in things like that, so one should expect several reserve players on the pitch.

Anzhi have been getting over the defeat suffered at the hands of Zenit a week ago. The visit of Gazprom’s favorites to Makhachkala was accompanied by scandals and police excesses. Now St. Petersburg fans are urged to record the sustained injuries, clubs vie with each in statements about the incident, while Alexander Ovechkin enjoys his new burka and papakha. Perhaps, after such madness an away game at Tatarstan will do Anzhi good.

Worth having a look

Spartak Moscow – Kuban Krasnodar. In case of a victory Kuban will catch up with Spartak by points. The South Russian club may be facilitated by a slight cold Welliton has caught – Spartak head coach Valery Karpin has just ‘some hopes’ that the Brazilian can take part in the game. It’s also not clear whether Alexander Sheshukov has already recovered completely from his injury. Aiden McGeady is now accompanied at the reserve field jogging by Nicolas Pareja and Marcos Rojo who turned up too late from Copa America. Spartak’s new signing Demy de Zeeuw has already received a shirt with his name on back, but admitted he is still far from his best conditions.

Keep an eye on

In the middle of July there were reports linking former Spartak Moscow and Rubin midfielder Denis Boyarintsev to several Premier League clubs with Rostov among them. Now Boyarintsev left the cash-strapped (and possibly bankrupt by next week) Zhemchuzhina Sochi as a free agent and begun negotiations with Tom Tomsk. Meanwhile, Tom head coach Valery Nepomnyashchy managed to sign Romanian defender Ovidiu Dananae from Universitatea Craiova and to send back home another Romanian, Rapid Bucharest stopper Marius Constantin.

Bet of the day

Unexpectedly for many Tom took three points from an away game against the ambitious Kuban thanks to a Pavel Golyshev’s double. Dealing at home with Terek Grozny will be easier, so let’s stake on the victory of Valery Nepomnyaschy’s team at 1.8.

Figure

4 days spent in prison by Spartak’s new signing Emmanuel Emenike persuaded him to leave Fenerbahce and move away from the Turkish football scandal, in which he became a suspect.

Tom Tomsk – Terek Grozny

July 30. Trud Stadium (Tomsk), 15.30 MSK.Referee: Almir Kayumov (Moscow).Injuries: Tigorev, Kim / Mguni, Essame, Edilov.Suspensions: none.Tom (Sports.ru version): Pesyakov – Khatazhenkov, D.N. Smirnov, Jokic, Skoblyakov – K. Kovalchuk, Golyshev, Balyaikin, Sabitov – Starikov, Kanunnikov.Terek (Sports.ru version): Godzyur – Ferreira, Omelyanchuk, Zengue, Utsiev – Mauricio, Georgiev, Pavlenko, Gvazava – Bracamonte, Asildarov.Last matches: = – = – + / – + + = -Last year’s matches: 2:1 (Tomsk), 1:0 (Grozny).Odds by Marathon Betting: Tom – 1.8, draw – 3.55, Terek – 4.55.

Rubin Kazan – Anzhi Makhachkala

July 30. Tsentralny Stadium (Kazan), 17.45 MSK.Referee: Alexey Nikolayev (Moscow).Injuries: Carlos Eduardo, Ryazantsev, Orekhov, Kuzmin / Tardelli, Lakhiyalov, Jucilei.Suspensions: none / Tagirbekov.Rubin (Sports.ru version): Ryzhikov – Bocchetti, Kverkveliya, Sharonov, Ansaldi – Natkho, Kislyak, Kasaev, Noboa – Karadeniz, Dyadyun.Anzhi (Sports.ru version): Revishvili – J. Carlos, Gadzhibekov, Angbwa, Agalarov – R. Carlos, Boussoufa, Ahmedov, St. Ivanov – Holenda, Prudnikov.Last matches: + + + – + / – = + = -Last year’s matches: 0:0 (Kazan), 0:1 (Makhachkala).Odds by Marathon Betting: Rubin – 1.93, draw – 3.35, Anzhi – 4.65.

Spartak Moscow – Kuban Krasnodar

July 30. Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow), 20.00 MSK.Referee: Vitaly Meshkov (Dmitrov).Injuries: McGeady, Parshivlyuk / Kulik.Suspensions: none.Spartak (Sports.ru version): Dikan – Makeyev, Suchy, S. Rodriguez, Ananidze – Mahmudov, K. Kombarov, R. Carioca, D. Kombarov – Dzyuba, Welliton.Kuban (Sports.ru version): Budakov – Davydov, Zelao, Armas, Zhavnerchik – Kozlov, Ne, Tlisov, Maximov – Urena, Bucur.Last matches: = + – + + / – – – + -First leg match: 3:1Odds by Marathon Betting: Spartak – 1.61, draw – 3.9, Kuban – 6.4.

Zenit St. Petersburg – Spartak Nalchik

July 31. Petrovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg), 16.30 MSK.Referee: Yury Baskakov (Moscow).Injuries: V .Bystrov, Zhevnov / Jovanovic, Pomazan, Berkhamov.Suspensions: none.Zenit (Sports.ru version): Malafeyev – Anyukov, B. Alves, Lombaerts, Hubocan – Zyryanov, Denisov, Danny, Faizulin – Kerzhakov, Lazovic.Spartak Nalchik (Sports.ru version): Fredrikson – Djudovic, Kulikov, Lebedev, Zahirovic – Leandro, Kontsedalov, Bagaev, Shchanitsin – Goshokov, Siradze.Last matches: + + + = + / – – – + =Last year’s matches: 3:1 (St. Petersburg), 2:3 (Nalchik).Odds by Marathon Betting: Zenit – 1.18, draw – 7.7, Spartak Nalchik – 18.

Dynamo Moscow – Volga Nizhny Novgorod

July 31. Arena Khimki (Khimki), 18.45 MSK.Referee: Stanislav Sukhina (Malakhovka).Injuries: none / Plesan, Yashin.Suspensions: Wilkshire / none.Dynamo (Sports.ru version): Shunin – Epureanu, Lomic, Fernandez, Granat – Semshov, Sapeta, Samedov, Karyaka – Kuranyi, Voronin.Volga (Sports.ru version): Abaev – Getigezhev, Buyvolov, Gaal, Grigalava – Crosas, Tursunov, Khodzhava, Shulenin, Salukvadze – Vatsadze.Last matches: – + + + + / – – – + -First leg match: 3:0.Odds by Marathon Betting: Dynamo – 1.24, draw – 6.5, Volga – 14.

FC Krasnodar – CSKA Moscow

July 31. Kuban Stadium (Krasnodar), 20.00 MSK.Referee: Sergey Lapochkin (St. Petersburg).Injuries: Shipitsyn, Martynovich / M. Gonzalez, Shchennikov, Necid, Aldonin.Suspensions: Kulchiy / Dzagoev.Krasnodar (Sports.ru version): Usminsky – Vranjes, Amisulashvili, Tubic, Andjelkovic – Joaozinho, Tatarchuk, Marcio, Yerokhin, Drincic – Movsisyan.CSKA (Sports.ru version): Akinfeyev – Nababkin, A. Berezutsky, Ignashevich, V. Berezutsky – Sekou, P. Mamayev, Honda, Semberas – Vagner Love, Doumbia.Last matches: + + – = = / + + + + +First leg match: 1:1.Odds by Marathon Betting: Krasnodar – 7.4, draw – 3.85, CSKA – 1.57.

Rostov Rostov-on-Don – Lokomotiv Moscow

July 31. Olimp-2 Stadium (Rostov-on-Don), 21.00 MSK.Referee: Alexander Yegorov (Saransk).Injuries: Lejsal, Radic / Amelchenko.Suspensions: Kalachyov / Ozdoev.Rostov (Sports.ru version): Kochenkov – Khagush, Salata, Okoronkwo, Zivanovic – Gatcan, O. Ivanov, Grigoriev, Yankov, Cesnauskis – Adamov.Lokomotiv (Sports.ru version): Guilherme – Shishkin, Ilic, Burlak, Yanbaev – Loskov, Glushakov, Ignatyev, Ibricic – Sychev, Maicon Marquez.Last matches: – – = – – / + – – – +Last year’s matches: 0:1 (Moscow), 1:2 (Rostov-on-Don).Odds by Marathon Betting: Rostov – 3.7, draw – 3.35, Lokomotiv – 2.16.

Krylia Sovetov Samara – Amkar Perm

August 1. Metallurg Stadium (Samara), 19.00 MSK.Referee: Timur Arslanbekov (Moscow).Injuries: Joseph-Reinette, Kuznetsov / Narubin.Suspensions: Taranov / Sekretov.Krylia Sovetov (Sports.ru version): M’Bolhi – Molosh, Kontsedalov, Djordjevic, Bobyor – Kovba, Priyomov, Tsallagov, Sosnin, Pecnik – Savin.Amkar (Sports.ru version): Khamutovsky – Sirakov, Fedoriv, Popov, Cherenchikov – Kolomeitsev, Peev, Novakovic, Mijajlovich – Djalovic, Burmistrov.Last matches: + – – – – / + = + – -Last year’s matches: 1:1 (Samara), 2:1 (Perm).Odds by Marathon Betting: Krylia Sovetov – 2.1, draw – 3.3, Amkar – 3.6.

NOTE: All matches begin at Moscow Time (UTC+4).

Overall standings: 1. CSKA – 40 pts (17 games), 2. Zenit – 33 (17), 3. Dynamo – 32 (17), 4. Rubin – 30 (17), 5. Spartak Moscow – 27 (17), 6. Anzhi – 27 (17), 7. Lokomotiv – 25 (17), 8. Kuban – 24 (17), 9. Krasnodar – 22 (17), 10. Amkar – 19 (17), 11. Tom – 19 (17), 12. Terek – 19 (17), 13. Volga – 16 (17), 14. Rostov – 13 (17), 15. Spartak Nalchik – 13 (17), 16. Krylia Sovetov – 11 (17).

Goalscorers: Lazovic (Zenit), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA) – 9, Golyshev (Tom) – 8, Kerzhakov (Zenit) – 7, Roman Adamov (Rostov) – 6.

Matchday 19. August 6. Anzhi – Tom, CSKA – Zenit, Kuban – Dynamo, Volga – Rostov, Terek – Spartak. August 7. Lokomotiv – Krylia Sovetov, Spartak Nalchik – Rubin, Amkar – Krasnodar.