Valery Kechinov, a former midfielder for Spartak Moscow, shared his perspective on the standout figures from the 2022/23 Russian Premier League season. He highlighted the top performers, naming Malcolm and Promes as the best players of the year. He also singled out the three coaches who left a lasting imprint on the league, crediting Semak, Fedotov, and Abaskal for their tactical ingenuity and leadership during the campaign.
Kechinov also pointed to teams that exceeded expectations. He praised Orenburg for their surprising rise, noting that their performance appeared beyond what many anticipated at the start of the season. He also drew attention to Akhmat, stating that the club underwent a noticeable transformation after the arrival of Tashuev, and that the team’s style and results shifted accordingly. These observations were shared in collaboration with Euro-Football.Ru as part of his assessment of the league’s dynamic year.
As the season approached its final round, Spartak Moscow prepared to travel for an away match against Wings of the Sovets, while CSKA Moscow faced Rostov in the capital. Both fixtures were scheduled for June 3 and were set to kick off at 17:00 Moscow time, adding a dramatic finale to a season filled with tense moments and shifting standings.
Following the 29th round of the Russian Premier League, Vladimir Fedotov’s squad sat in second place with 55 points. Guillermo Abascal’s team was close behind in third with 54 points, and Rostov, sitting fourth with 53, remained in contention for a top-three finish. The battle at the top of the table reflected a tightly contested race, with several clubs in the running for European qualification and domestic glory as the season neared its end.
The leadership of the league remained with Zenit, who clinched the title in the 26th round, showcasing a spell of consistent performance throughout the campaign. The team demonstrated depth, resilience, and a clear strategic plan that helped them secure a comfortable lead and left rivals charting a difficult path to catch up as the season moved into its final stages.
Earlier in the season, Madrid-based reports noted that Spartak Moscow’s goalkeeper Alexander Selikhov and defender Alexis Duarte would miss the upcoming match against Samara Wings of the Soviets due to a cold. The absence of these players added to the roster decisions teams faced as they balanced fitness concerns with the push for results in a demanding schedule.