Valery Kechinov weighs in on the second half of Russia’s Premier League season
The former Moscow Spartak player and Russia’s national team veteran Valery Kechinov shares what he sees as the key intrigue heading into the second portion of the Russian Premier League season. He emphasizes that the central drama revolves around Spartak Moscow’s ability to close the gap with Zenit St. Petersburg and challenge for the title, a pursuit that dominates his thoughts as matches resume. He believes every point earned in each round matters greatly, and he is convinced Zenit will face hurdles and drop points along the way. In his view, Spartak has a real chance to catch up if momentum is maintained and the team stays sharp in every fixture.
The excitement grows as the standings after week 17 show Zenit leading with 42 points, holding a six-point cushion over Spartak, which sits on 36. Rostov is close behind on 35, while Spartak’s rivals outside the top two are also in the mix, creating a tight race as the season progresses. The gap for Spartak remains just one point behind the immediate pursuers, keeping the battle for position wide open as the campaign moves forward.
Looking ahead, the season schedule continues with the Russian Cup matches set for February. In the Path of Regions quarterfinals, Spartak Moscow will face Lokomotiv, Krylya Sovetov Samara takes on Dynamo Moscow, Rostov meets Ural Yekaterinburg, and CSKA Moscow confronts Krasnodar. The knockout rounds promise to inject fresh drama and could influence club form and confidence for the league backend as teams balance domestic cups with league duties.
Meanwhile, a notable personal note from the football world emerges as Emmanuel Eboue, the former Arsenal defender who also played for the Ivory Coast, publicly voiced admiration for Lokomotiv striker Artem Dzyuba. The exchange highlights how players from different leagues and generations acknowledge standout talents across the Russian football landscape, underscoring the sport’s broad network of respect and mutual recognition.