Lokomotiv has reclaimed the top spot in the Russian Premier League standings, edging out Krasnodar on head-to-head results. Adding to the excitement, championship favorites Zenit are now just one point behind the leaders, intensifying the title race.
Sports observer Ivan Shvets analyzed the key matches of the 10th round.
RPL Matchday 10 Review:
- Rostov vs. Krasnodar (0-0): Krasnodar, one of the league leaders, failed to overcome a resilient Rostov side away from home. Rostov demonstrated its capability to neutralize top clubs, extending their unbeaten run to five matches. This season, Rostov has already defeated CSKA and secured points against Baltika and Lokomotiv, proving their strength.
- Zenit vs. Orenburg (5-2): Led by Sergei Semak, Zenit is rapidly closing the gap on the leaders, having climbed from ninth place to within striking distance of the top. Their dominant victory over Orenburg was powered by stellar performances from their Brazilian players, Wendel`s return to form, and notably, Glushenkov`s impressive four-goal haul (a poker). Aleksandr Sobolev also scored immediately after coming on as a substitute. The match saw goalkeeper Adamov`s remarkable clean sheet streak of nearly 500 minutes come to an end.
- Akhmat vs. Akron (3-0): Stanislav Cherchesov`s Akhmat delivered a spectacular football display. Substitutions by Mansilla and Konate proved decisive, securing a confident win. Cherchesov has set a new club record with seven unbeaten matches since taking charge, bringing Akhmat level on points with Dynamo and Spartak. Dynamo, for reference, had previously beaten Krylia Sovetov 3-2 on Friday.
- Lokomotiv vs. Rubin (1-0): Lokomotiv snapped their five-match drawing streak, though their performance against a defensive Rubin side was not particularly impressive. The winning goal came in the 78th minute from a long-range shot by captain Dmitry Barinov, which slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Staver, securing Lokomotiv`s return to first place.
RPL Standings After Matchday 10:
- 1. Lokomotiv – 20 points (leads on head-to-head record).
- 2. Krasnodar – 20 points.
- 3. Zenit – 19 points.
- 4. CSKA – 18 points.
- 5. Baltika – 17 points.
- Akhmat, Dynamo, Spartak, and Rubin all have 15 points.
Upcoming Matchday 10 Fixtures (Sunday):
- CSKA will host Baltika.
- Spartak will face Pari Nizhny Novgorod at home.
