The eleventh round of the Russian Premier League features eight matches, evenly split between Saturday and Sunday. A key characteristic of the current league situation is the exceptionally high density of points in the standings, making every game crucial.
Zenit is poised to reclaim the top position in the league, a spot they haven`t held exclusively for ten months, last leading the table on December 2, 2024. A new opportunity arises this Saturday: secure an away victory against Akron and hope that both Krasnodar and Lokomotiv drop points.
Current league leader CSKA takes to the field on Sunday. Lokomotiv faces a challenging match against a resurgent Dynamo on their home ground. The reigning champions, despite playing at home, will encounter Akhmat, who remain undefeated under their new coach.
The Kuban team (Krasnodar) has failed to score in three consecutive matches, including their Tuesday Cup game against Dynamo, resulting in zero goals. Krasnodar`s coach, Murad Musaev, acknowledges this issue but believes it can be resolved:
“If we talk about the games against Zenit and Dynamo, there were chances. I believe we had about three clear-cut opportunities in each match. And of course, scoring just one of them could have changed the game, made it more open, and created more scoring opportunities. It`s not ideal; we usually score a lot. But having chances is very important. The game against Rostov was tough. There, of course, we needed to keep the ball on the ground more, not resort to what suited them, but play our own football. Not everything went as planned, but overall, there`s a good atmosphere within the team, in the locker room. The guys are trying hard in every training session. It`s clear everyone wants to win. Such difficulties occur periodically. We need to work even harder now, believe in ourselves even more.”
The highly anticipated super derby between CSKA and Spartak is scheduled for Sunday. On Saturday, the main event will be the clash between Dynamo and Lokomotiv at 19:45. The hosts of VTB Arena are regaining their form, though their central defense remains a weak point. However, Tyukavin has returned. On Thursday, the unexpected departure of Dmitry Gafin, chairman of the club`s board of directors, was announced. Lokomotiv, on the other hand, appears to have overcome its crisis. Only the uncertainty surrounding captain Barinov`s new contract causes some slight anxiety. Furthermore, the prolonged silence from RPL`s top scorer and Lokomotiv star, Alexey Batrakov, has been noted. He is, undoubtedly, a unique player, as remarked by Alexander Grigoryan, former coach of Khimki, Anzhi, and Kuban, on `Match Premier` TV channel:
“Have you seen Batrakov`s one-on-one dribbling? He plays as a `number ten`. And have you seen Batrakov`s first touch under pressure? No. The question arises: how does a young player without one-on-one dribbling or a first touch under pressure play at such a high level? The answer is simple: he makes decisions faster than others. This guy simply thinks a day ahead of everyone else. In Batrakov, we are dealing with a unique phenomenon that, in my opinion, will develop into an outstanding footballer.”
This Saturday, Zenit will face a test against Akron Togliatti in Samara. Glushenkov`s four goals in the last round, combined with his overall skillful play, establish the vice-champion as the clear favorite. Artyom Dzyuba`s team has minimal chances of securing points.
League Standings Overview
Current standings: CSKA leads with 21 points. Lokomotiv and Krasnodar both have 20 points, but Lokomotiv holds second place due to their 2-1 victory in their head-to-head match. Zenit is fourth with 19 points, followed by Spartak with 18, and Baltika with 17. Akhmat, Dynamo, and Rubin each have 15 points. Lokomotiv remains the only undefeated team in the league.
Key Matches Broadcast
Federal broadcaster Match TV will air two of the eight matches from the 11th round. Both are considered `top-tier` and feature only Moscow teams. Saturday will showcase the Dynamo vs. Lokomotiv clash, while Sunday brings the highly anticipated `Derby of All Rus`: CSKA vs. Spartak.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth