Russian Premier Liga: Gameweek 23 Preview

With the pandemic tragedy of COVID-19 affecting us across the globe, football has had to take the back seat in many countries with the decision being to either suspend the ongoing league or to continue playing behind closed doors. Luckily for Russia, Coronavirus hasn’t had a massive toll on their season as they continue to go ahead with their remaining fixtures, as scheduled.

Friday 20 March

PFC Sochi 7/4
Draw 43/20
FK Rostov 15/10
(18:30)

Friday night should produce a thrilling encounter between PFC Sochi and Rostov at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. This will be the club’s sixth successive home game as they head into this one off the back of three consecutive victories in a row. Rostov have been going through indifferent form, winning just two of their last eight games. My money is on the hosts.

Saturday 21 March

FC Ural 29/20
Draw 2/1
Rubin Kazan 19/10
(13:00)

FC Ural will play their first home game of the year when they welcome Rubin Kazan to town. Their home form leaves a lot to be desired before their four-month absence at home, losing four of their last five encounters at their own turf. Rubin Kazan moved up by a couple of places to 13th on the table with their 1-0 win at Arsenal Tula last weekend. That was their fifth successive game where the Under 2.5 Goals market was triggered. Follow suite here and back the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals at 11/20.

Arsenal Tula 23/10
Draw 21/10
Spartak Moscow 12/10
(15:30)

Spartak Moscow will have the opportunity to leapfrog Arsenal Tula in the table as the two sides do battle this Saturday. The hosts are one spot above Spartak, despite having an inferior goal difference, due to their head-to-head record, where they claimed a 1-0 win in Moscow. Spartak come into this game in relatively decent form, winning three of their last four games across all competitions. Arsenal Tula have lost their last two in the league. Back the away win.

Lokomotiv Moscow 13/20
Draw 51/20
Orenburg 4/1
(18:00)

Lokomotiv Moscow could move up to second when they host Orenburg on Saturday evening. The hosts have been superb since the return of the break, drawing at Zenit, followed with two wins on the bounce. Orenburg have suffered back-to-back defeats in the division. Surely this one should be home and dry for the hosts. Take Lokomotiv here at 13/20.

Sunday 22 March

Krylia Sovetov 31/20
Draw 37/20
Akhmat 39/20
(13:00)

Krylia Sovetov lie 14th in the Premier Liga and they’ll want to further distance themselves from the relegation zone. Akhmat are rooted to the bottom of the table and are yet to record a win in 2020. These sides played to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting back in September last year and I can see this game ending in another stalemate.

Ufa 11/10
Draw 19/10
Tambov 28/10
(13:00)

Ufa will fancy their chances against relegation-threatened Tambov. The hosts, who sit 14th in the Premier Liga, punched above their weight in their last two matches, earning draws away to Zenit and CSKA Moscow. Tambov lost 1-0 at Dinamo Moscow last time out, suffering their 11th defeat of the campaign – no team has lost more. Back the home win.

Krasnodar 21/20
Draw 22/10
Dinamo Moscow
(18:00)

Krasnodar are nine points behind table-toppers Zenit in the Premier Liga, but would have been a lot closer to the leaders had they not thrown away so many points at home. The Bulls remain unbeaten on their turf this season, but have drawn five times – including four of their last five. Dinamo Moscow are riding a two-match winning streak and have won four of their last five on the road. The draw is the way to go.

CSKA Moscow 2/1
Draw 43/20
Zenit 27/20
(15:30)

CSKA Moscow have been very disappointing. They’ve gone five games without a win in the Premier Liga and face a free-scoring Zenit side who thumped Ural 7-1 in their last fixture. The table-toppers will be confident of making it five straight wins on the road. Back them at 27/20.

Written by Jesse Nagel and Chad Nagel