The former general director of Moscow’s Spartak, Yevgeny Melezhikov, publicly stated that he did not observe any advantage from utilizing administrative resources in favor of Zenit. His remarks were circulated by the outlet Rating bookmakers, which relayed his assessment to a broad audience across the football community.
According to Melezhikov, there is no need for Spartak to replicate the same approach to counter Zenit. He emphasized that Zenit possesses a solid vertical organization and a stable club structure, supported by high-caliber players. He noted that Spartak is pursuing parallel objectives and strategies, expressing hope that the leadership under Oleg will achieve success. In Melezhikov’s view, sustained results would secure long-term stability. He added that Lukoil, a major sponsor in the Russian football landscape, tends to favor a conservative, less volatile corporate posture rather than frequent leadership changes.
Zenit closed the previous season as Russian champion for the fourth consecutive time, earning a second star on the team’s jersey to reflect their success. Spartak has earned the same number of stars, representing their own championship pedigree in the league’s history.
In the domestic cup competition, Zenit advanced to the quarter-finals but were eliminated by Dynamo in a penalty shootout. The tournament ultimately went to CSKA, who defeated Krasnodar in the final to claim the title. These results set the stage for a highly competitive campaign across the Russian football landscape.
The new season is set to begin with the Super Cup clash between Zenit and CSKA, scheduled for July 15 in Kazan. The match is slated to kick off at 17:00 Moscow time, presenting both teams with an early chance to establish momentum for the upcoming league battles and cup runs. The organizers expect a high-caliber showcase that could influence early momentum and confidence for both sides.
Meanwhile, Igor Diveev highlighted Zenit and Spartak as the favorites for the forthcoming season in the Russian Premier League (RPL), underscoring the anticipated competitive dynamics among the top clubs. This perspective aligns with the broader narrative of a league poised to deliver intense rivalries and entertaining matchups throughout the year.