Start Date: 1st August
Honours (13/14): CSKA Moscow (League champions), Rostov (Russian Cup winners)
Teams qualified for European football (14/15): CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg (both UCL), Lokomotiv Moscow, Dinamo Moscow, Krasnodar, Rostov (all UEL)
With much weightier matters in mind when it comes to Russia, the start of the Russian Premier League isn’t exactly the main focus of Western eyes at present. Aside from the political tensions in Ukraine, the Russia 2018 World Cup has also been in the news after suggestions of vote rigging and rising concerns of Russia’s ethics when hosting a multinational tournament have been put in the spotlight. By the beginning of August however, the RPL will kick off its 13th season, its fourth season in a traditional European format running from August through to May.
CSKA Moscow who put together a great final stage
turnaround to win their second title in successive years in May will start as
narrow favourites. For a second year in a row they haven’t dipped as of yet
into the transfer market for a real upgrade to their starting line-up, as they will
likely rely again on their experienced back line to make it three titles from
three. A defensive set up that was horribly exposed at the World Cup, where the
national side crashed out disappointingly in the group stage, leading some to
question CSKA’s merits going into the new campaign.
In attack they continue to have a wealth of options; last
season’s golden boot winner Seydou Doumbia was in sensational form despite
struggling for fitness, while Doumbia’s return has increased the productivity
of Ahmed Musa and Zoran Tosic on CSKA’s flanks. While the title is a clear
ambition for Lenard Slutsky’s men, Champions League progression is a long term
goal, to ensure they’re playing European football after the winter break is a
major target of the Russian champions.
Similar targets are shared by big spenders Zenit St.
Petersburg who have put further emphasis on the tournament after initial
Financial Fair Play consequences have been placed on them during the off-season.
This will be manager Andre Villas-Boas’ first full campaign in charge after
cruelly missing out on the title due to a dismal defeat to Dinamo Moscow on the
penultimate match day. He’s brought in further steal with World Cup finalist
Ezequiel Garay coming in to reinforce the central defence, while the mixed World
Cup form of Brazilian forward Hulk has at least ensured that Zenit should be
able to keep hold of their prized asset for another season. The same can’t be
said of their Belgian centre midfielder Axel Witsel who is gaining admirers by
the day, but if they’re able to keep the group together, AVB will have the most
emphatic squad in the league on paper.
If the title went elsewhere, which it hasn’t done since
2010, Lokomotiv Moscow, at least on last season’s performances may sneak a
third Russian title. After leading for much of last year, Loko fell off in the
final run in, succumbing to the likes of their Moscow rivals and Zenit but
garnered much praise for their creativity and defensive stability which they’ll
look to take into a Europa League campaign this season. In truth, despite the
signings of Alan Kasaev (from Rubin) and Manuel Fernandes (from Besiktas), Loko
will be happy to repeat last year’s achievements and will be satisfied with
European qualification once more.
As would, two further Moscow rivals; Spartak and DInamo
who have been far from their best over the last few years leading to change in
both camps; as Murat Yakin (Spartak) and Stanislav Cherchesov (Dinamo) move
into the managerial hot seat for the new season. Former Zenit captain Roman
Shirokov has joined Spartak, while the final destination of Artyom Dzuyuba who
impressed so much while on loan at Rostov is still unknown, with the Red’s still
considering whether he could threaten Armenian top scorer Yura Movsisyan for a
starting striker spot. Dinamo on the other hand have strengthened their
defence, Alex Buttner comes in from Manchester United, while Bulgarian
international Stanislav Manolev has joined from Kuban.
Of the outsiders, Krasnodar look to make further strides
into the European spots after clinching Europa League football on the final day
of last season. They continue to spend wisely in the transfer market, bringing
in Dikan from Spartak, with Bystrov and Akhmedov following from Anzhi on free
transfers. Rubin Kazan, who like Zenit have been hit by Financial Fair Play in
the close season, will be without European football for the first time in four
years but continue in their usual fashion of spending big bringing in the likes
of Marko Livaja from Inter, Ruslan Rotan from Dynamo Kiev and Maksim Kanunnikov
from Amkar, but are going to be without the impressive French centre midfielder
Yann M’Vila who has made his way to Italy with Inter.
Amkar Perm and Rostov ruffled more than a few feathers
last year but will have mitigating circumstances this time around. Amkar have
lost their influential manager Cherchesov to Dinamo, while Rostov, who lifted
the Russian Cup last term will be without the goals of Dzuyba after his return
to Spartak. This time around Rostov have brought in the better, former Russian
internationals; striker Bukharov from Zenit (after an unsuccessful spell at
Anzhi) and midfielder Torbinski from Rubin have been lured by Europa League
football and should settle the side down for a mid-table finish.
The rest of the division will be happy to stay put after
a hard fought relegation battle last term threatens to repeat itself with four new
interesting promoted clubs eyeing immediate safety. Torpedo Moscow make it five
clubs from Russia’s capital in the RPL, returning to the top flight for the
first time in 8 years with a derby against reigning champions CSKA on the opening
day.
Ufa are tipped to struggle and will likely rely on the
goals of Dmitri Golubov who scored 4 in their playoff win in May against Tom
Tomsk to key them in the division. While of the two directly promoted sides;
Mordovia bounce back immediately after relegation in 2013, while Arsenal are
primed to surprise under former Russian international and Champions League
winner Dmitri Alenichev, in their debut RPL campaign after three successive
promotions.
Ones to Watch:
Roman Shirokov (Spartak Moscow) – A charismatic player on
his day who fell out with previous Zenit regimes. Farmed out on loan to
Krasnodar at the end of last term, but has now found a permanent home. Arguably
the most talented player in Russia but missed out on the World Cup with a knee
injury sustained at the end of the season.
Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow) – Has been out of form since a
superb campaign for Russia in Euro 2012, and was only used as a squad player in
last season’s title win. In the last year he has suffered inconsistent form due
to injury and indiscipline but has the capabilities on his day to be one of the
league’s best players.
Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St. Petersburg) – A World Cup star performer which saw him reach the final with Argentina after making the move to Zenit from Portuguese champions Benfica. Strong in the air but also competent on the ground, he will be a great aid in Zenit’s back four in both domestic and European football. Started his career at Real Madrid but failed to break through sufficiently.
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