GROUP A (Champions’ Group)

KUBAN KRASNODAR 2 – 2 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG was almost the upset of the weekend with the home side two-up with only 17mins to play after a fantastic brace from Lasina Traore, tearing through Zenit for his first before heading in his second. But Andrei Arshavin netted on 79mins, his second in two games, then a minute later Roman Shirokov blasted-in a loose ball from close range to save a point.

As it turned out, Zenit remained 12 points clear, with only 12 points left to play for now, as Spartak Moscow crashed to a home defeat to Guus Hiddink’s Anzhi - SPARTAK MOSCOW 0 – 3 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA definitely the upset of the weekend.

Spartak had been accelerating up the table and Dzyuba clattered against the bar early on but after Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring on 39mins, his first goal in seven games, Anzhi didn’t look back and Lakhiyalov and an own goal from Pareja added to insult to injury – Spartak, after all, were hoping to honour the memory of various veterans in attendance for the club’s 90th birthday. But victory for the cash-rich Young Turks from Dagestan meant Spartak slipped to third place with Anzhi getting ever closer to fifth and European qualification.

DYNAMO MOSCOW 1 – 0 CSKA MOSCOW saw Dynamo leapfrogging into second place courtesy of Zvezdan Misimovic. An enigmatic presence in his debut season, due to injury, Misimovic struck the winner on 18mins, lashing-in the pass from Dzsudzsak who was himself enjoying a rare start and performing with elan coming in off the right wing. As for CSKA, no win in five leaves them in fourth and, on this form in danger of missing out on Europe altogether.

Across town Lokomotiv enjoyed the lion’s share of their game against Rubin but due to missing their chances and the usual obstinacy from Kurban Berdiev’s team we ended with LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 0 – 0 RUBIN KAZAN. The form of Loko’s central defensive pairing of Taras Burlak and Maksim Belyaev continued to impress and further make their case to start for Russia at the Euros this summer ahead of the tried, tested but tired-looking CSKA defenders. Rubin dropped out of the European spots after this result with Loko staying fifth.

GROUP B (Relegation Group)

Football is a cruel mistress at times and after last week’s Trojan effort Tom Tomsk fell to defeat this, meaning the slim chance they gave themselves of scraping into the relegation play-offs have all but evaporated after being well beaten. VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 2 – 0 TOM TOMSK was decided by two penalties converted by Kirilov then Karyaka, putting Volga nine points beyond fifteenth-placed Tomsk in the final relegation berth.

KRYLIA SOVETOV SAMARA 2 – 1 ROSTOV was a sensational result for the Samarans as it gives them every chance of climbing out of the relegation play-off places as they drew level on points with their opponents after this victory. Sergei Kornilenko held his nerve to score a last-minute penalty in order to seal a second brace in two games for the ex-Blackpool player. This could be a very big turning point for both clubs.

A Nikolai Markov goal after 28mins saw FC Krasnodar win away in Chechnya. TEREK GROZNY 0 – 1 FC KRASNODAR meant that Terek, currently in eleventh place, may yet be sucked into the relegation dogfight. Krasnodar are safe in ninth.

Amkar Perm have also surely cemented their place in the RPL for another season after defeating hapless Nalchik. AMKAR PERM 1 – 0 SPARTAK NALCHIK was decided by Vitaly Grishin’s close-range finish on 34mins, largely thanks to appalling defending. It’s no shock that Nalchik are all but relegated; eleven points off safety with 12 to play for, it’s only the maths that spares them for another game.

You can contact Alex by following him on Twitter via @alrobjack

CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev

GROUP A (Champions’  Group)

It’s been written many times already but after ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 2 – 0 CSKA MOSCOW it can now be said with surety that the title will be Zenit’s after this win put them 12 points clear at the top with only five games to play. Igor Akinfeev returned for the Armymen after 6 months out but was powerless to halt CSKA’s nosediving form and this defeat meant there’d been only one win from their last 10 outings.

After a scrappy hour of football with both teams squandering chances Zenit, who’d been using the pace of Vladimir Bystrov and Domenico Criscito down the flanks all match, took the lead through Bystrov on 63mins. The winger headed-in Kerzhakov’s centre from close-range, doing his bit to smooth relations with the fans who tend to boo him for once having left the club for rivals Spartak.

As it was, Bystrov had to leave the field after Andrey Arshavin stepped on him by way of this bizarre celebration. In truth Bystrov had hurt himself scoring but in Arshavin’s words, “He was writhing, I wanted to finish it!”

Arshavin himself wrapped things up a minute from time with a superb volley after more good work from Kerzhakov down the right. Some scamp released an inflatable horse (one of CSKA’s nicknames) as the goal went in and as it disappeared into the sky CSKA’s Champions League hopes perhaps vanished into thin air too as they slipped to fourth.

CSKA’s city rivals, however, are upwardly mobile and with SPARTAK MOSCOW 2 – 0 RUBIN KAZAN The Meat have climbed into second place meaning that the side who were second from bottom after five games may yet qualify for the Champions League. Marek Suchy turned-in Makeev’s flick-on to put Spartak ahead after 73mins before Emmanuel Emenike – an inspired July signing – netted his twelfth in eighteen appearances.

It was a deserved win over a lacklustre Rubin who cling to the final European qualification spot in sixth.

Before kick-off in Makhachkala home fans held aloft a banner exclaiming: “Europe is Waiting”. By the end of ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 – 1 DYNAMO MOSCOW, however, such expectancy had been tempered and another banner unfurled asking: “6 Games, 0 Goals. Sam, WTF?”

Indeed, another goalless day for Eto’o saw ambitious Anzhi defeated by Rykov’s goal after 37mins, deflecting in off ex-Blackburn man Chris Samba.Yet Anzhi had come closest in the ninth minute but after Zhirkov hit a post he centered the rebound only for Akhmedov to head against the bar and the ball was ajudged to have not crossed the line entirely.

Dynamo’s win takes them up into third and pushing for a Champions League spot while Anzhi remain in seventh, two places and four points behind Rubin and the last Europa League berth. For Hiddink’s men Europe may have to wait a little longer.

KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 1 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW rounds-off Group A. Both sides  shared 36 shots at goal equally and while Loko edged possession both ‘keepers played superbly, a draw feeling about right overall. Ex-Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko put Loko ahead with a clinical finish on the hour but Pizzelli equalised with an unstoppable free-kick with 15mins remaining.

GROUP B (Relegation Group)

There were some huge results at the bottom of the table, not least TOM TOMSK 3 – 0 TEREK GROZNY. Ruslan Nakhushev opened the scoring with a delightful free-kick on the stroke of half-time before Gultyaev and then Boyarintsev added to the scoreline.

The southern Russians from Grozny failed to adapt to the freeze-dried Siberian pitch leaving Tomsk in fifteenth but inching closer to the relegation play-off berths and the slimmest chance of surviving the drop. It would be a miraculous achievement but after this, their third win in six, no longer beyond the realms of possibility.

And Tom’s cause was helped by Volga crashing to defeat with SPARTAK NALCHIK 3 – 0 VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD. It proved yet another case of ‘New Manager Syndrome’ as the victory was the first game under the stewardship of new boss Timur Shipshev. Kontsedalov, Mitrishev and Buitrago with the goals to keep Volga more involved with the relegation places than they’d like. Nalchik remain bottom and Volga in fourteenth place.

Also capitalising on Volga’s defeat were Krylia who climbed closer to escaping the relegation play-offs altogether with a win in Perm, KRYLIA SOVETOV SAMARA 2 – 1 AMKAR PERM the score. Sergei Kornilenko (on loan at Blackpool last season) bagged a brace to overturn Peev’s opener for Perm but missed a penalty and blew his chances of a hat-trick. Volkov and Novakovic were both sent off for the visitors who remain in tenth while Krylia keep Rostov in their sights.

ROSTOV 1 – 1 FC KRASNODAR meant Rostov remain twelfth and are now just three points clear of the relegation play-offs ahead of Krylia. It could have been worse for Rostov, however, as veteran striker Dmitry Kirichenko only cancelled out Movsisyan’s opener in the final seconds.

Roman Pavlyuchenko sees his penalty saved

GROUP A (Champions group)

Guus Hiddink’s Anzhi were frustrated in their push for Europe while CSKA dropped more points on Zenit as their spring collapse continued in CSKA MOSCOW 0 – 0 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA. Both sides had chances to score but CSKA reserve ‘keeper Chepchugov kept his first clean sheet while CSKA were profligate.

Poor form for the Armymen has coincided with their loss of Akinfeev six months ago. The Russia goalkeeper’s return is now imminent but all too late to rescue their title challenge with CSKA now 11 points behind leaders Zenit. And speaking of poor form, Eto’o made it five games in a row that he hasn’t scored in, tarnishing a promising start to life in Dagestan with 8 from 11.

To make matters worse, when he was subbed-off here, Eto’o sat down on the CSKA bench for a chat with his opponents’ caching staff! Hardly a way to appease frustrated fans, an increasing number of whom are starting to question Eto’o's dedication and, indeed, the validity of his huge wages.

Zenit themselves only just secured all three points. LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 0 – 1 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG saw the wasteful Muscovites produce 21 shots but managing to land only four on target – and one of those was a saved Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty.

In truth, Zenit only managed four on target too but Roman Shirokov was left free inside the box from a corner to net his first league goal since September and give Zenit a decisive lead after 75mins. In defeat Loko’s bid for Europe now hangs by a thread as they cling to fifth place with Rubin just one point behind them.

The only consolation for Loko is that they remained level on points with Dynamo above them as they drew with the Kazan club. DYNAMO MOSCOW 1 – 1 RUBIN KAZAN saw the venerable Moscow team fail to beat Rubin for the sixth season in a row. Kazan manager Kurban Berdiev may clutch Rosary beads every game but the reason for the ‘hoodoo’ is rather more prosaic - Rubin’s continued obduracy (not to mention Dynamo’s perennial inconsistency).

Zvezdan Misimovic opened the scoring on 10mins, Kevin Kuranyi letting Rykov’s pass run through to the Bosnian who chipped-in. But Bibras Nathko’s free-kick after 68mins was met by the head of Nelson Valdez to equalise.

Rounding off the action in the Champions’ Group was SPARTAK MOSCOW 2 – 0 KUBAN KRASNODAR. Poor Kuban defending allowed Emenike a shot on goal with which he duly punished the visitors with an unerring finish after just seven minutes. And the Nigerian turned provider for strike-partner Ari to tap-in on 60mins, again soft defending from Dan Petrescu’s charges providing the initial opportunity.

Consequently, Spartak have surged into third place and look set to complete an amazing turn-around to their season after a dire start. They might yet even nick a Champions League place as they are now just one point behind second-place CSKA.

GROUP B (Relegation group)

AMKAR PERM 1 – 0 ROSTOV. The win here came courtesy of Aleksandru Gatcan’s unfortunate own goal after 69mins: his goalkeeper palms the ball against a stumbling Gatcan who inadvertently shovels the ball over the line with his arm! At least the ref let the goal stand and save him the indignity of a red card and penalty. Small mercies, eh? But let’s not overlook how this win made Amkar the most successful RPL team of 2012, winning five from six games since the Spring restart.

Krasnodar’s Pavel Golyshev is one of the more eye-catching young players involved in the Relegation Group and his opener on 45mins – his second from four starts – set Krasnodar on their way to all three points despite FC KRASNODAR 3 – 1 TOM TOMSK featuring the eleventh penalty awarded against Krasnodar this season, scored by Rebko to equalise on 68mins. But Martsvaladze put the home side infront again before Joaozinho applied the gloss with eight minutes to go.

Not a whole lot to report from VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 0 – 0 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA, a game that would have seen either side pull a little further away from the other as they duke-it-out over the relegation berths and hope to catch Rostov up in twelfth. However, check out this horrible shank by Anton Bober as he steps up to take a corner. Oh dear.

Nalchik were condemned to their sixth defeat in six games leaving them bottom of the pile and looking doomed, a whole 10 points from the even the outside chances of the relegation play-off places. The scoring in TEREK GROZNY 2 – 0 SPARTAK NALCHIK was started by Mauricio, who finished a fine flowing move with aplomb after 25mins. Piotr Polszak then doubled the lead with a thumping header on 83mins.

You can follow Alex on Twitter via @alrobjack

GROUP A

A lot has been written this week of Aleksander Kerzhakov’s collision with Andriy Dikan during SPARTAK MOSCOW 1 – 2 ZENIT ST.PETERSBURG that left the Spartak goalkeeper with multiple fractures to his skull. It wasn’t so much the challenge in of itself that grabbed the column inches – it was accidental enough and, incredibly, Dikan played on! – but the fact that Spartak’s Brazillian striker, Welliton, was slapped with a six game ban after this collision with CSKA and Russia ‘keeper Igor Akinfeev.

That incident last summer left Akinfeev sidelined for the last six months with knee ligament damage while Welliton, whose challenge was deemed crudely and intentionally late, was banned by the authorities for six games. As such Spartak have been kicking up a stink about Kerzhakov and the apparent precedent set with Welliton’s punishment, not helped by the fact that Spartak and Zenit are bitter enemies.

But all that silliness rather takes attention away from a glorious stonker from the ageless Sergei Semak: a trademark late burst from midfield saw the veteran smash in Zyryanov’s pass off the under side of the bar after just 10mins. That helped Zenit on their way and it was Kerzhakov himself who doubled Zenit’s advantage from the spot on 63mins, after the Russian striker was tripped in the box by Pareja. Artem Dzyuba managed to muscle in a late goal for The Meat but it was only to be a consolation.

LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 0 – 2 DYNAMO MOSCOW meant the Blue-Whites where the only Moscow club to win last weekend and they did so by ending a five game winless streak against a side who hadn’t conceded a goal since the Spring restart. Dynamo starlet Kokorin latched onto an error from Loko’s right-back, Shishkin, before expertly lobbing the goalkeeper 2mins before half-time. Zvejdan Misimovic then netted a penalty 2mins from full-time.

Loko had been threatening to overtake CSKA Moscow in second place but their defeat scuppered their hopes but with KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 1 CSKA MOSCOW things could’ve been worse. As it was, two minutes from time, the wonderfully named Anton Sekret coolly slotted home after Igor Lolo’s mishit shot found him free in the box, cancelling out Seydou Doumbia’s opener – his 27th goal of the season and the diminutive striker’s seventh header.

And in RUBIN KAZAN 1 – 0 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA Obafemi Martins outmaneuvered fellow ex-fellow Barclays Premier Leaguer, Chris Samba, to score the only goal of a game that saw Rubin leapfrog their mega-rich opponents and move into sixth place. Both sides, however, still harbour hopes of pipping Spartak to the last European berth as they’re only one point ahead of Rubin and two better off than Anzhi.

GROUP B

Alan Gatagov’s  overhead-kick after 16mins in SPARTAK NALCHIK 0 – 2 TOM TOMSK helped previously hapless Tomsk heave themselves off the bottom and switch places with their opponents after 15 games at the foot of the table. Nalchik, meanwhile, have now slumped to five defeats in five. Adrian Ropotan added a second but Gatagaov’s strike stole the limelight – however, it was not quite as good as  Kornel Salata’s effort for Rostov in round 36.

After notching his 100th goal last week, veteran Andrei Karyaka netted his 101st – a penalty – during VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 2 – 1 ROSTOV, perhaps the first game of any real quality in the relegation division since the league split.

More in-keeping with the way it’s been going at the bottom was AMKAR PERM 2 – 0 TEREK GROZNY where the Chechen’s contrived to hand the goals to Perm. First Mijailovic’s shot squirmed under the blunder prone Dzhanaev in goal before Martin Jiranek managed to head past Dzhanaev with five minutes left on the clock.

Elsewhere KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA 1 – 1 FC KRASNODAR saw the Samarans fail to escape the relegation play-off zone.

It was a 0-0 bore draw between Anzhi and Spartak

Despite every game in the Championship Division being a draw there were a few records broken, while in the Relegation Division a foreboding chasm between those in the relegation mire and those clear of it opened up.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

With Friday’s evening result CSKA MOSCOW 1 – 1 DYNAMO MOSCOW, it seemed that the Armymen had all but blown their chances of catching Zenit.

Igor Semshov’s header on 75 minutes (the longest-distance header of the season) cancelled-out Doumbia’s early opener – his 25th of the season, breaking a 67-year-old club record previously held by CSKA legend, Vsevolod Bobrov – courtesy of a lovely chipped pass from Keisuke Honda and generous defending from Dynamo’s Granat. Doumbia now only needs one more to break the RPL’s all-time record for goals in a single season set by Rotor Volgograd hero, Oleg Veretennikov.

But CSKA’s slip was matched by Zenit on Sunday who, still to find their imperious pre-winter form, again failed to drive the final nail into the championship race’s coffin and, zombie-like, it keeps rising from the dead.

Indeed, it was former Zenit player, Alexey Ionov (dismissed from the club over the winter break due to alleged alcohol-related misdemeanors) who returned to haunt his old team, netting the game’s opener from the spot on 40mins after Kuban’s Marcos Urena was judged to have been tugged in the box. However, Danko Lazovic rescued a point and saved the day for Zenit with a close range finish with 16mins left to play, leaving the game ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 1 – 1 KUBAN KRASNODAR.

RUBIN KAZAN 0 – 0 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW was ‘played’ out on an absolute dog of a pitch. “It wasn’t so much a game as a struggle,” Roman Pavlyuchenko told Sport-Express. “It was more like rugby than football,” the ex-Spurs striker declared, “it would have been easier to pick up the ball and throw it” – which tells you all you need to know about this turgid encounter.

Summing up the weekend ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 – 0 SPARTAK MOSCOW proved another disappointment with Guus Hiddink’s new charges failing to live up to their glamorous facade in a rain-soaked clash that did nothing to whet the appetite and everything to dampen the excitement of a fixture between the RPL’s Young Turks and previously resurgent old stagers.

THE RELEGATION DIVISION

For some the spectre of match-fixing reared it’s ugly head during FC KRASNODAR 1 – 3 TEREK GROZNY. While Terek began the weekend only four points from the relegation play-off zone – something that narcissistic owner, Ramzan Kadyrov, will not countenance – Krasnodar sat safely in ninth place with nothing left to play for.

After just 21mins Terek were three-up and the defending for the last of these – including the lame effort by Krasnodar goalkeeper, Dzhanaev, to claw the ball back from over the line – certainly looks suspicious for those willing to read into such things. It has to be said, though, that teams from the Caucasus do have a reputation for ‘buying’ results – and Terek have been accused of it before.

On a lighter note, comedy’s Tom Tomsk finally managed it’s first home win in 10 months of trying. TOM TOMSK 1 – 0 VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD was the result, courtesy of a scuffed goal from Denis Boyarintsev on 41 minutes. Ugly and unedifying it may have been but Tomsk won’t care. However, it still leaves them at the foot of the table, seven points adrift of the relegation play-off berths and their only, unlikely, hope of avoiding the drop.

FC ROSTOV 1 – 0 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA was the reason Tomsk have even that slim hope. Kryliya have been flirting with financial ruin all season and relegation should probably finish them off, an outcome not helped by this result. Kalachev netted the winner after 21 minutes, though Veremko should have done better and the Rostselmashi held on to all three points despite playing the last 24mins with 10 men after Gatcan was dismissed for a second yellow.

And with SPARTK NALCHIK 1 – 2 AMKAR PERM the Ural mountains team all but severed their ties with the bottom four and the relegation battle. Goals from Grishin and Burmistrov either side of half-time put the game beyond Nalchik, who scored through Golichev with nine minutes to play, and put six points distance between the away side and the dreaded drop-zone places.

Follow Alex on Twitter @alrobjack

After almost three months the RPL’s historic transitional season resumed. During the break they’ve lured a host of familiar faces away from the English Premier League such as Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Christopher Samba, and Diniya Biyaletdinov, and Guus Hiddink has also arrived, further cementing it’s reputation as Europe’s league to watch out for.

And the RPL came roaring out of hibernation with a marquee fixture that was just as eager to cast off the freezing shackles of a Russian winter.

CSKA MOSCOW 2 – 2 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG

The game burst into life with Aleksander Kerzhakov’s opener coming inside the first minute, seemingly setting the league leaders on their way to a valuable win over their nearest rivals.

Suddenly a big game for 16-year-old CSKA goalkeeper, Sergei Revyakin, making his RPL debut due to Igor Akinfeev’s long-term injury and stand-in keeper Sergei Chepchugov’s suspension, immediately became a whole lot bigger. It feels harsh to lay blame at the door of such an inexperienced player but a more established No.1 may have got his angles a little better. Still, no benefit of the doubt could be afforded the CSKA defence who simply waved-through Hubocan’s speculative long-ball.

Early on the Armymen’s back-line proved slow and flat-footed and soon after Kerzhakov’s strike Zenit’s Roman Shirokov had headed onto CSKA’s post when it seemed easier to score. The debutant Revyakin was afforded criminally scant protection from a group that made up three-quarters of the defence in Russia’s recent match against Denmark.

But on 17 minutes Dzagoev equalised with a second bite of the cherry from just yards out and while it was utterly against the run of play it was entirely for the good of the title race and Zenit’s swiftly established nine-point gap had been reigned back to six.

The galvanising properties of a goal out of nothing quickly saw CSKA – notably the combinations of Dzagoev, Musa and Doumbia – grow into a match that had threatened to leave them behind and the Armymen could have been ahead after 23 minutes had Ahmed Musa’s centre not narrowly evaded RPL top-scorer Seydou Doumbia. Instead the first half ended level, both teams’ midfield seemed alarmingly porous and Zenit never really tested young Revyakin as relentlessly or ruthlessly as league-leaders ought to.

But it was Kerzhakov again who made the break-through with a sumptuously executed volley after 56mins, arcing the ball past Revyakin off his instep from another Hubocan pass.

So often the difference, Kerzhakov is a fine player but was doing too much in isolation, the much anticipated return of Andrei Arshavin, boosted by his goal for Russia against the Danes three days earlier, turned out to be a bit of a damp squib and offered his striker not a lot in support. Indeed, Arshavin had been withdrawn only moments before the goal and it was CSKA’s wide-man, Musa – also making his RPL debut after arriving from VVV-Venlo in the winter – who scored the game’s final goal on 68mins, a nicely worked combination between Doumbia, Honda and the Nigerian winger.

Things never quite clicked for CSKA’s hot-shot striker, Seydou Doumbia, but the Armymen might even have sneaked all three points had Honda’s swerving effort not rattled the bar with just ten minutes left.

All in all a draw was probably a fair result but while CSKA (and the rest of us) were relieved that there’s still a title race and Zenit, who twice surrendered a lead, were still feeling the effects of this sucker-punch as they limply went out of the Champions League against Benfica on Tuesday night.

If the weekend’s first big fixture was a goal-laden blockbuster, then the weekend’s next biggest game was a box office flop. DYNAMO MOSCOW 0 – 1 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA had an added glamour about it after the arrival of Guus Hiddink and Christopher Samba but Anzhi’s star men failed to shine while Dynamo’s pre-winter dash was still on it’s holidays.

After just 17mins Samuel Eto’o should have put the visitors ahead but could only send his shot against the post when one-on-one with the keeper while Ivanov also missed a clear opportunity for Anzhi moments later. The referee then helped Dynamo by turning down what seemed a clear penalty for Anzhi on 35mins but instead chose to book Yuri Zhirkov for what he saw as a dive rather than a clumsy foul by Dynamo’s Luke Wilkshire.

Dynamo went into half-time having had most of the possession but had looked laboured with it. Throughout the second half both sides continued to be disjointed in their play, neither team managing any combinations of meaningful football. Of course, at their best this season – Dynamo especially – these two sides have employed an attractive passing game that perhaps fared badly on the cut-up pitch at the Arena Khimki, a surface utterly inconvenient to fluid play.

No surprise then that it was a set-piece that yielded the game’s only goal after 69 minutes. Jucilei notched his first RPL goal with a neat finish inside the box after a spot of pinball ensued from Anzhi’s free-kick from the left. After that, Semshov and Smolov both squandered chances to equalise but Anzhi themselves were unfortunate not to score after Zhirkov – probably the best performing Big Name – hit the bar after dancing past three defenders on 73 minutes.

Four managers in one season highlights how desperately Anzhi want to achieve success and a win for new man Hiddink, playing all his stars (regardless of how poor they may have played) felt like an important step for the team from Dagestan. Indeed with that win Anzhi, in seventh, are now only three points off third-place.

ELSEWHERE

Ex-Spurs man Roman Pavlyuchenko enjoyed a winning return to the RPL. LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 2 – 0 KUBAN KRASNODAR saw Maicon open the scoring after only 5mins before Kuban’s star striker, Lacina Traore, fluffed a penalty on 42mins and Felipe Caicedo compounded the visitor’s misery by netting Loko’s second a minute later.

RUBIN KAZAN 1 – 1 SPARTAK MOSCOW.  Former Celtic star Aiden McGeady set up Emenike to equalise for the Meat on 80mins after Sharonov had put Rubin ahead on 58mins.

TEREK GROZNY 1 – 0 TOM TOMSK. Thanks to Vladimir Putin the hapless Siberians may have dodged the administrator’s bullet over the winter but not even the Big P could prevent them from losing. Again. Well, he has been a little busy of late. Asildarov with the winner from the spot after 21mins.

OTHER SCORES

VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 1 – 0 SPARTAK NALCHIK; FC KRASNODAR 1 – 0 ROSTOV; AMKAR PERM 2 – 1 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA

Arsenal's Arshavin hoping to regain his mercurial form back at Zenit

“What pleasure does the tender nightingale receive from the honour of its cage?” – Nikoloz Baratashvili, 1839.

That somewhat self-indulgent opening is a quote from one of Georgia’s most famous poems, The Fate of Georgia. However, the nightingale of Baratashvili’s epic could just as well be Andrey Arshavin who, fleeing the fetters of Arsenal, makes his return to the Russian Premier League in the white of his boyhood club, Zenit, in a game that could all but decide the outcome of the championship. But this is far from a simplistic ‘the hero returns’ scenario.

Way back on 22 November 2008, Arshavin signed-off for Zenit with an assist on his final league appearance for his home town club against arch-rivals Spartak Moscow. He’d been instrumental in helping Zenit clinch their first ever RPL title the season before, had just starred in Zenit’s glorious 2008 UEFA Cup campaign, helped them to a UEFA Super Cup Final victory over Manchester United and starred for Guus Hiddink’s Russia at that Summer’s European Championships. With a move to Arsenal and the English Premier League  only weeks away (joining fellow Russian new-comers Roman Pavlyuchenko and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov) Arshavin’s star was firmly in the ascendant.

Of course, we all know what has happened since and now, while the landscape of the place he returns to should look familiar, the climate Arshavin returns to must feel very different to the one he departed from: the warm winds of enthusiasm and opportunity having been blown away by bleak, oppressive, storms of opporbrium.

But starting with this Saturday’s game away to CSKA, undoubtedly the biggest fixture of a weekend that sees the RPL creak back into life after it’s winter break, Arshavin has an opportunity to soar again, free from the mental cage that life at the Emirates had clearly become.

Arshavin’s time at Arsenal (the ‘honourable’ reward for a mercurial one-club RPL career that saw him play nearly 300 games, score 76 goals and make 107 assists) started well enough but eventually came into line with the increasing sense of anger, frustration and bewilderment projected by Arsenal fans onto their team as a result of Wenger’s unraveling vision. For Arshavin, a songbird of a footballer, such an atmosphere began to fetter him.

Since his loan move back to St. Petersburg, Arshavin has seemingly already taken his first rehabilitative steps with an eye-catching display in Russia’s 2-0 victory over Denmark, a game where he made one and scored the other.

Perfect preparation, you would think, for a player whose aim during this loan deal must be to regain the confidence he obviously lost during his time in England. This Saturday’s match against CSKA, second in the league and six points adrift of Zenit with 12 games remaining, is a proper top-of-the-table clash of the sort that would have Sky gurgling themselves into a ‘Super Saturday’ style frenzy. For Arshavin it could be a defining moment in the rebuilding of his career – should he rise to the pressure.

And what pressure! With Danny facing a lengthy time out with damaged cruciate ligaments, Arshavin is the natural replacement as the team’s star play-maker. But seeing as this is Arshavin and Zenit, this is akin to a long exiled King attempting to reclaim his rightful throne. Added to this is the fact that Arshavin has rarely performed brilliantly against CSKA. He debuted for Zenit versus the Armymen 12 years ago but was subbed at halftime and they went on to lose the game 0-1 amid scenes of violence in the stands as fans clashed with local police. Indeed, in 22 games against CSKA Arshavin fared best a year after that debut, when Zenit vanquished their Muscovite adversaries 6-1 with Arshavin laying on a nice assist for his team’s first goal and scoring their last.

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What’s more, Zenit fans can be a fickle bunch, as demonstrated by their constant barracking of winger Vladimir Bystrov whom they’ve never forgiven for leaving them for arch-rivals, Spartak Moscow, despite having returned to the club back in 2009.

However, it seems that with the nostalgia of games past still unsullied, the Zenit supporters are eager to embrace their old favourite and the club was doing a roaring trade in replica Arshavin shirts, despite the RR3,210 (£69.00) price-tag, within hours of the news of his return breaking.

And for Arshavin, whose confidence has sunk so low since he left the comforts of home, that must surely be music to his ears and a timely boost in his efforts to rediscover his voice.

Roman Pavlyuchenko

As the January transfer window interminably squelched towards a damp squib finale, Russia has seen some big names (literally) arrive for some big transfer fees. The Russian window doesn’t even close until February 24 so with Arshavin and Tevez still in limbo, who knows what will happen next.

LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

Done Deals:

Roman Pavlyuchenko has swapped one metropolis for another with his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Lokomotiv Moscow in a £7.9million deal. “Super Pav” returns to the capital where he bagged 89 goals in 141 appearances for city-rivals Spartak. An enigmatic but talented player when he feels valued, this should prove a shrewd move for Loko. He arrives alongside Andrei Eschenko from Volga, Russia U-21 midfielder Maksim Grigoryev, and Belarus international defender Jan Tigorev.

Rumoured:

Sky Sports suggested that the Railwaymen are lining up a surprise £3million bid for Celtic’s Anthony Stokes. The 23-year-old striker’s Republic of Ireland team-mate, Aiden MacGeady, made the move from Glasgow to Moscow back in summer 2010.

Lukas Podolski’s agent has denied reports that he’s met with Lokomotiv officials but has confirmed that there’s Russian interest – apparently a move to Moscow from Koln has been agreed for the summer, presumably so that Podolski remains ‘on the radar’ for the German national team before the Euros?

DYNAMO MOSCOW

Done Deals:

The most eye-catching deals thus far have been clinched by the Policemen who landed Balazs Dzsudzsak from Anzhi for £16.7million on a four-year deal. The Hungarian winger only joined Anzhi last July but injury prevented him bedding in. Potentially a really good signing, provided it doesn’t upset the rhythm of an in-form side and Dynamo really can afford it.

Dynamo’s second statement of intent was the capture of Rubin Kazan’s captain, Cristian Noboa, for £7million. Taking two of their rivals’ top men suggests Dynamo are looking to push-on from their strong finish to 2011.

Rumoured:

Sevilla’s Diego Perotti had been linked but any deal looks unlikely now Dynamo have paid out for Dzsudzsak.

ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG

Done Deals:

The current league-leaders have only managed to recall youngster Maksim Kanunnikov from loan at Tom Tomsk but are linked with a host of names.

Rumoured:

Intriguingly, Sports.ru have linked Celtic’s other striker, Gary Hooper, to Zenit as well as CSKA Moscow. Surely just rumour-mongering at its most playful?

Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal’s maligned midfield enigma, has also been strongly linked back to his boyhood club, which he left after winning the UEFA Cup in 2008. “He is a quality player,” claimed Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti. “I have the greatest respect for him as a player. People in St. Petersburg value him even more.” Like Pavlyuchenko, this move would also be good all-round, not least as it might mean football fans could once again enjoy a rejuvenated Arshavin, one of Russia’s biggest talents for a generation.

Zenit have also been mooted to have offered a swap-deal, including Alessandro Rosina, for Fiorentina attacking-midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas – who had been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

After a move to Chelsea failed to materialise, the St Petersburg side have been linked with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazillian play-maker Willian. Juventus’ out-of-favour winger, Milos Krasic, has also been on their radar. The Juventus man’s agent, Vlado Borozan, saying: “It is a possibility that he will return to the Russian league, where he spent some of the best years of his career.”

Fellow Juve man, defender Leonardo Bonucci, has also been touted as has Lokomotiv Moscow’s Denis Glushakov, whom the Railwaymen must fight tooth and nail to keep after some great displays in midfield for a resurgent Loko this season. Ominously for Loko,  David Pizarro – who’s now gone to Manchester City – was earmarked as the fall-back should a move for Glushakov fall through, leaving Zenit with only Glushakov to aim for.

CSKA MOSCOW

Done Deals:

Vagner Love, the Brazilian striker who plundered 117 goals in 244 appearances has completed his protracted move to Flamengo for £9million. While CSKA will miss his goals, they won’t miss his many disappearing acts to Brazil.

One player the Armymen won’t be missing is Keisuke Honda after his transfer to Lazio collapsed and he’ll be lining-up alongside new recruit, Pontus Wernbloom, the Swedish international midfielder (and Lukas Podolski look-alike) signed from PSV Eindhoven for £2.6million.

VVV-Venlo forward Ahmed Musa, 19, has agreed terms. CSKA have recently brought in a clutch of good African players, most notably Seydou Doumbia, and if he can get anywhere near emulating the Ivorian, Musa will go far. Perhaps mist importantly of all, though, CSKA have managed to hold on to Doumbia himself (at least until the summer).

Lastly, 22-year-old South Korean midfielder, Kim In-Sung, has been bought from Gangneung City.

Rumoured:

As well as being linked to Celtic’s star striker, Gary Hooper, CSKA were rumoured by Sports.ru to have lodged a bid for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes. The Armymen had apparently wanted Gomes as cover for Igor Akinfeev, who’s sidelined for the next six months, but the Brazilian rejected the offer on financial grounds. While CSKA have lost sub keeper, Vladimir Gabulov to Anzhi, the failure to land Gomes may prove a bullet dodged.

Elsewhere, the Armymen are also reportedly chasing Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo but will have to battle Real Madrid.

SPARTAK MOSCOW

Done Deals:

Completing the exodus of Russian talent from the Barclays Premier League is Diniyar Bilyaletdinov who joins Spartak, from Everton, for £5million. It should prove a decent acquisition for Valeriy Karpin provided Bilyaletdinov (like Pavlyuchenko) thrives on a regular first-team place.

Rumoured:

Racing Santander apparently covet Georgian prodigy Jano Ananidze, either on loan or on a permanent basis. The former would surely be a better deal for Spartak as Jano is one of the RPL’s more exciting prospects.

RUBIN KAZAN

Done Deals:

Confusion has reigned as manager Kurban Berdiev was first rumoured to have resigned from his post after 11 years, then that was refuted, confirmed and finally refused by the club. A disagreement with new president Dmitry Samarenkin, over the dismissal of the head of Rubin’s youth academy Ivan Danilyants, was reportedly behind the affair. For my money, perhaps the selling of club captain Noboa was done over Berdiev’s head, sparking the fall-out. Either way, it’s arguably more important that Rubin keep the shrewd, pragmatic, Berdiev than any player.

In other business, Rubin have signed 23-year-old Iran international goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi from Persepolis, becoming the RPL’s first Iranian. Igor Lebedenko has left the club for Terek Grozny.

Rumoured:

Sport-Express have the Kazan club chasing APOEL Nicosia’s Macedonian striker Ivan Trickovski. Last year Trickovski was voted Macedonia’s best player playing abroad and Berdiev, should he stay, has a history of bringing the best out of his modest signings – see Bibras Nathko.

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA

Done Deals:

Russia’s new nouveau-riche have done more selling than buying thus far, with Vladimir Gabulov, in from CSKA, their only signing of stature, while Dzsudzsak has left for Dynamo and Diego Tardelli for Al-Gharafa of Qatar.

Rumoured:

So Anzhi have amassed a warchest of some £22million – plus whatever sugar daddy Kerimov wishes to spend. As such, Anzhi have been linked to Andrei Arshavin and Carlos Tevez. Either would be great signings for the Dagestani side with Tevez, a potential marquee signing for the RPL following Samuel Eto’o’s seismic move last year, and with moves elsewhere for Tevez breaking down with alarming regularity, he may yet make up for moving even further from Argentina with a monster contract.

But one move certainly not happening was a somewhat less glamourous one for El-Hadji Diouf. “Even in our worst nightmares we wouldn’t want to see this player at our club,” said Anzhi advisor German Tkachenko.

DOWN THE BOTTOM

Beyond the top seven transfer-activity has been quiet. Partly as Amkar Perm’s accounts have been frozen and Volga Nizhny Novgorod are under a transfer embargoe due to unpaid debts.

Tom Tomsk had also been placed under embargo until as recently as Monday when Gazprom and Rosneft came to their financial rescue after Vladimir Putin called on businesses to invest in the Siberian club. Incredibly, this is the second time Putin has saved the club who found themselves in similar financial dire straits three seasons ago.

In other news, Tamas Priskin has moved to Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia’s second-tier after his contract with Ipswich was terminated.

Danny was on target for Zenit against Lokomotiv Moscow

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION:

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 2 – 1 CSKA MOSCOW

While there’s still a disparity in quality throughout the Anzhi squad, the Dagestani are ever improving and this win will serve as further evidence of their emerging force.

Shamil Lakhiyalov put the home team ahead one minute into the second half, producing a delicate finish to Jucilei’s beautiful pass. But Anzhi’s Jekyll and Hyde character then shone through as Vagner Love brought CSKA level within a minute of the restart.

The rest of the half saw both sides miss chances until Eto’o found a winner with a penalty two minutes from time, for which Armymen goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov was dismissed after felling Yuri Zhirkov.

It was a cruel ending for the CSKA goalkeeper who generally performed well on the night, but his error saw the curse of the keeper strike once again and CSKA dropped yet more points in their race to the title.

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ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 2 – 1 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

And CSKA’s result was made worse with Zenit’s win at home to Loko. Danny put them ahead on 26 minutes with a close-range finish after the ball evaded both goalie and defender.

RPL legend Sergei Semak then netted his first of the season with 31 minutes gone with a quick-footed toe poke. Denis Glushakov struck back for Lokomotiv eight minutes later but it proved only a consolation as Zenit moved six clear at the top of the table.

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RUBIN KAZAN 2 – 0 DYNAMO MOSCOW

Rubin’s Tsentralny Stadium kept it’s hex over the Moscow clubs as Dynamo were undone by goals from Eremenko, after four minutes, and a Karadeniz cracker on 22 minutes - Kazan surviving the last 22 minutes with just 10 men after Bocchetti was sent off.

That made it a total of only two points and one goal amassed by Dynamo, Spartak, CSKA and Lokomotiv Moscow collectively this season. It’s the first time since 2005 that no Moscow club has won in Kazan and Karadeniz helped everyone feel nostalgic as he caught a dog that had strayed onto the pitch. Well done.

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KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 1 SPARTAK MOSCOW

Lacina Traore is enjoying a brilliant debut campaign and The Cossack’s giant striker put Kuban in-front with his third goal in three games against The Meat, pouncing on Marco Ne’s lovely hooked pass.

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That made it 15 in 27 for the Ivorian but six minutes from time, Evgeniy Makeev’s brilliantly improvised volley denied Traore a winner and rescue a point for the Moscow giants.

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RELEGATION DIVISION:

SPARTAK NALCHIK 3 – 0 TEREK GROZNY

Chances befell both teams before Jovan Golic put Nalchik ahead on the stroke of half-time.

If the first 45 was close, Nalchik romped it in the second as the snow began to thicken. Magomed Mitrishev netting a double to help Nalchik to record their first 3-0 win of the season and clamber three points close to relegation safety.

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OTHER SCORES

Tom Tomsk 0-0 FC Krasnodar; Kryliya Sovetov Samara 1-0 Volga Nizhny Novgorod

Emenike destroyed Loko again

As the RPL splits into two groups to decide the big winners and losers (although all points carry over from the initial 30 rounds), the top two dropped points to allow Moscow’s big two, Spartak and Dynamo, to close the gap. At the bottom, sorry Tomsk are cut further adrift while Perm were the biggest movers as they inched further away from danger.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION:

CSKA 1 – 2 RUBIN KAZAN

Rubin raided the result of the group, closing the gap between themselves and Lokomotiv in the chase for Europa League qualification – but more importantly, it saw the Armymen miss yet another opportunity to reel-in Zenit.

This is a recurring theme this season and things started badly for CSKA as Alan Kasaev put Rubin ahead after 16 minutes. Jinking inside Pavel Mamaev, who didn’t do nearly enough to keep the Rubin man off his stronger right foot, Kasaev found the bottom corner with ease. CSKA’s man of the season, top-scorer Seydou Doumbia, brought the Armymen level on 36 minutes from the penalty spot after Ansaldi was deemed to have bundled Mamaev over.

Sergei Ignashevich, the CSKA centre-back, is the usual penalty taker so it was a surprise to see the Ivorian take on the responsibility. However, already the RPL top-scorer by eight clear goals, Doumbia is clearly now gunning for the all-time RPL haul of 25, set by Rotor Volgograd’s Oleg Veretennikov back in 1995, something that with 13 more games to play he should smash.

Yet in the rush to rewrite the record books Doumbia then wasted a second penalty – even more dubiously awarded - for the home team on 55 minutes. His initial “Panenka” found the net but he was ordered to retake it and he skied the second kick.

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That miss proved pivotal as Rubin plundered all three points as Ryazantsev’s speculative drive somehow bounced past Gabulov who, still filling-in for the injured Akinfeev, once again cost CSKA crucial points in the race for first place, the title and Champions League football.

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ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 0 – 0 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA

Gabulov’s gaffe and Doumbia’s haste were set in starker contrast as Zenit dropped points at home to Samuel Eto’o's Anzhi.

The game was notable for the return of Vladimir Bystrov, Zenit’s flying winger who’s hated by the team’s hardcore fans for his spell at bitter rivals Spartak Moscow, as well as Anzhi’s Mbark Boussoufa collecting two yellow cards within a minute to receive one of the RPL’s fastest ever dismissals.

The usually clinical Zenit were persistently wasteful. By contrast Anzhi, spurred on by a bumper 1,500 away crowd, kept home goalkeeper, Malafeev busy all night and he took much credit for earning the league-leaders a point as well as their continued position atop the division.

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SPARTAK MOSCOW 2 – 0 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

The derby day fixture featured another two goals for Spartak’s Emmanuel Emenike, after bagging a hat-trick against Loko the last time the sides met just three weeks ago. Clearly the Nigerian favours Loko as opponents as five of his eight RPL goals have come at their expense.

Dmitry Kombarov’s lovely pass released Emenike who lifted the ball expertly passed Guilherme for the opener on 26 minutes.

Parshivlyuk then raided from right-back into the box and, showing great feet, helped the ball to Emenike who showed his strength to hold off the Loko defence before finding the top corner to seal the game before half-time.

And Emenike might have had another hat-trick but Kirill Kombarov’s cross-shot later on was neither one nor the other while Emenike himself missed a one-on-one with Guilherme.

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DYNAMO MOSCOW 2 – 1 KUBAN KRASNODAR

Dynamo’s skipper, Igor Semshov is in the scoring form of his career – with 11 in 26 appearances this season – meaning his team are still very much in the hunt for the title, something they have not won since 1976.

And the midfielder opened the scoring after 19 minutes as Misimovic’s delightful chip sent him free to steer in a volley. Andrey Kokorin, who’d earlier hit a post, doubled the lead by lashing home a loose ball, courtesy of Samedov’s free-kick, on 27 minutes.

Kuban rallied somewhat in the second 45 and Bugaev pulled one back after 59 minutes, owing much to Shunin’s howler in nets.

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RELEGATION DIVISION:

ROSTOV 3 – 1 TOM TOMSK

Poor old Tomsk continued their wretched form as they plummeted to another defeat despite taking the lead via a dodgy Kanunnikov penalty after 22 minutes – and that was while they were down to ten men, having had Stroyev dismissed after just 15 minutes.

But Tomsk self-destructed and lost another man as Nitinskiy was sent off for a second yellow after 53 minutes and then gave away a penalty for Adamov to equalise on 56 minutes.

Papadopulos then scrambled one in on 70 minutes before Adamov put the home team out of sight with two minutes to play.

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VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 1 – 2 AMKAR PERM

Amkar moved a place up the table and away from danger courtesy of goals from Grishin and Burmistrov, within a minute of each other on the hour mark, to overturn an early Belozerov goal for Volga.

FC KRASNODAR 3 – 2 SPARTAK NALCHIK

This goal-fest saw Krasnodar head into half-time 2-1 up thanks to Movsisyan – a drilled finish from a long ball – and Eugene Shipitsin – a classic midfielder-arriving-late-in-the-box finish. Krasnodar had bossed it but Dzhudovich halved the deficit on 41 minutes with a brave header.

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Nalchik’s promising youngster Arsen Goshokov wriggled into the box to rifle passed the goalkeeper and bring Nalchik level after 56 minutes, but Abreu won it for the home side with a tap-in on 79 minutes after the keeper parried Martsavaladze’s long range effort.

Dzhudovic then collected a second yellow in injury time to compound Nalchik’s woes.

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TEREK GROZNY 0 – 0 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA

Borefest.

Samuel Eto'o's brace made it 6 goals in 8 RPL games for Anzhi

Zenit St. Petersburg have finished top of the pile after 30 games and Tom Tomsk a poor last, but it’s not over just yet. With the top eight teams due to compete for the Championship and the bottom eight to avoid relegation, Anzhi headed into the pause celebrating their twentieth birthday with a win, while Aiden McGeady came up trumps in the classic derby between Dynamo and Spartak.

Elsewhere, Rubin suffered a shock defeat, Tomsk finally scored after 12 games, Zenit and CSKA drew, while Arsenal-linked Seydou Doumbia finished top scorer.

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 3 – 1 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA

Anzhi headed into this game celebrating their twentieth anniversary but Kryliya threatened to spoil the party by taking the lead via Vorobyov’s driving run and strike on 55 minutes.

But Samuel Eto’o ensured the fans continued celebrating by bringing Anzhi level almost immediately, finishing Zhirkov’s cut-back from close-range on 56 minutes

Shamil Lakhiyalov then put Anzhi ahead after 64 minutes, another header from another Yuri Zhirkov cross. Then Eto’o claimed his first brace in the RPL from the penalty spot on 68 minutes to ensure a birthday win.

Anzhi finished eighth and will go on to compete in the Championship mini-league. Samara finished fourteenth and will now compete in the Relegation mini-league.

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DYNAMO MOSCOW 1 – 1 SPARTAK MOSCOW

Kevin Kuranyi put The Policemen infront in Russia’s big derby game in Moscow, heading-in from Samedov’s free-kick after 39 minutes.

But ex-Celtic star, Aiden McGeady, enhanced his reputation among Meat fans by notching the equaliser with a smart left-footed curler from the edge of the area on 57 minutes.

Dynamo finished third and Spartak fourth, meaning both will now compete in the Championship mini-league.

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LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW 1 – 1 CSKA MOSCOW

In the weekend’s lesser derby, CSKA’s Seydou Doumbia scored goal number 23 in the RPL (from 28 games, with no penalties) after 64 minutes, cancelling out Ignatiev’s opener.

Despite Doumbia being crowned top-scorer in the league, CSKA could only finish second. Loko came fifth and both will now compete in the Championship mini-league.

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KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 1 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG

Aleksandr Bukharov was guilty of a horrendous miss and Zenit rued it after Lacina Traore’s penalty on 66 minutes cancelled out Denisov’s opener for the away-side.

Zenit finished in pole position while Dan Petrescu’s Kuban finished sixth, a fantastic achievement in their first season back in the RPL. Both will now compete in the Championship mini-league.

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ROSTOV 2 – 1 TOM TOMSK

Hector Bracamonte put the hosts in front after 20 minutes before Tomsk equalised on 68 minutes – finally scoring a goal after playing over 1000 minutes without doing so. And Victor Stroyev’s equaliser was a scorcher!!

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Unfortunately, Rostov managed a winner at the death to scupper Tomsk, via Razvan Cocis. Rostov finished in tenth and Tomsk last, so both will now compete in the Relegation mini-league.

TEREK GROZNY 2 – 0 FC KRASNODAR

Pavlenko scored a nice left-footed half-volley to put the hosts ahead on 69 minutes before Mguni added a second two minutes from time.

Terek finished in eleventh spot, Krasnodar a respectable ninth. Both will now compete in the Relegation mini-league.

VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 1 – 0 RUBIN KAZAN

The surprise result of the weekend came at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Novgorod as Shota Bibilov’s goal on 30 minutes downed the Ruby.

Volga finished 12th so will play in the Relegation mini-league while Rubin finished seventh and will compete in the Championship mini-league.

SPARTAK NALCHIK 2 – 1 AMKAR PERM

Roman Kontsedalov’s blockbuster on the stroke of half-time put Nalchim ahead before Shiraki’s own goal put them further ahead. Tyukalov pulled one back for Perm in the dying seconds.

Nalchik finished in 15th place while Perm finished 13th, will compete in the Championship mini-league.

Eto'o (r) put Anzhi ahead against CSKA

Undoubtedly the clash of the weekend saw a hat-trick from Seydou Doumbia as CSKA put Anzhi’s chances of inclusion in the minileague  to contest the championship next Spring in severe doubt with two games to go. Elsewhere, Zenit strolled to a win while Spartak’s newest star, Dmitri Kayumov scored a sensational debut goal.

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 3 – 5 CSKA MOSCOW

Big spending Anzhi took the lead after just 4 minutes as big earning Samuel Eto’o pounced when stand-in keeper, Sergei Chepchugov, fumbled a header at the Cameroonian’s feet to queue wild celebrations

But, ike a microcosm of their season as a whole, Anzhi only looked good sporadically. There’s still too much disparity in quality between their stars and the rest and as a result, Anzhi – who have yet to invest those things called defenders – left themselves too open too often and Doumbia brought CSKA level on 25 minutes, meeting Dzagoev’s cross with a flying header.

The Armymen then rattled-in four goals without reply with Vagner Love and Doumbia linking well a minute into the second half for the Ivorian’s second.

The Brazilian Love then scored himself on 62 minutes following elegant work from Alan Dzagoev before Doumbia completed his hat-trick  with a dubious goal on 80 minutes that the home players were convinced came off his arm. The defending was poor and the goal was scrappy, but the man in charge  thought it was legit so it stood.

A purring Dzagoev added the fifth with a well executed take-and-finish with only 8 minutes to go but Anzhi suddenly struck back via a clinical brace from Jan Holenda.

The result leaves Anzhi in eighth position, which is the last berth that wins a place in next Spring’s mini-league to decide the champions (and bring the RPL in line with western leagues) but with just four points between them and FC Krasnodar below them with two games to go.

The Armymen remain two points behind Zenit in second and, provided they hold on to key personnel like Doumbia, Dzagoev and Keisuke Honda, plus the return from injury of first-choice goalie, Igor Akinfeev, by the time the league restarts, look set to be major contenders for the title.

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DYNAMO MOSCOW 0 – 2 RUBIN KAZAN

A resurgent Dynamo lost for the fifth consecutive fixture to a Rubin side who, momentarily, forgot their dour nature and deserved their effervescent reverse. A great save from Ryzhikov kept Dynamo’s Kuranyi out on 29 minutes. Corkers from Ryazantsev on 58 minutes and Nathko ten minutes later won it, though performances from Nathko, Noboa and Eremenko earned it.

Dynamo now slip to third while Kazan are in sixth.

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ROSTOV 1 – 3 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG

Picking up from their fantastic Champions League clash with Shakhtar last week, Zenit blew Rostov away in the first 32 minutes. Danny scored the opener with a thunderous effort on 9 minutes after a nice back-heel from Sergei Semak. Lukovic netted a penalty on 16 minutes before setting-up Bukharov who headed the third. Bracamonte claimed a deflected consolation for the hosts after 49 minutes.

Zenit remain in top-spot while Rostov stay in tenth.

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SPARTAK MOSCOW 4 – 0 TOM TOMSK

A first win in two was convincing for The Meat at Tom’s expense, Suchy and Ari netting in the first-half, Kayumov and Ari at the death. Young Kayumov’s strike on 84 minutes was a highlight of the weekend.

Spartak stay fifth while Tomsk fall to rock-bottom.

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SPARTAK NALCHIK 1 – 2 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

Loko leapfrogged Dynamo into third after Glushakov and Durica overturned Gridnev’s first-half opener. Nalchik are now off the foot of the table.

VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 0 – 2 FC KRASNODAR

Martsvaladze and Movsisyan won the points for Krasnodar who are chasing Anzhi hard for eighth, the last spot in the Champions’ mini-league, lending next week’s derby with Dan Petrescu’s Kuban extra interest. Volga stay thirteenth.

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TEREK GROZNY 1 – 0 AMKAR PERM

Ferreira’s goal on 69 minutes won it for Terek who go eleventh, Perm fall to twelfth.

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KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 1 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA

Dan Petrescu’s charges fell behind to struggling Kryliya after Kornilenko scored after 41 minutes but Davydov levelled four minutes after the break. Kuban stay seventh, Kryliya fourteenth.

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