Roman Pavlyuchenko, the forward known for wearing the kits of Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, Tottenham, and the Russian national team, offered his take on this season’s battle for the Russian Premier League title. Drawing on nearly two decades in the top flight, he framed the conversation around the leading teams and how they have performed so far, sharing observations shaped by a long career that has seen many title races swing on small margins. His reflections provide a veteran lens on the contest, focusing on momentum, confidence, and the margins that separate champions from runners up.
At the summit, Pavlyuchenko highlighted Zenit Saint Petersburg and Krasnodar as the teams setting the pace. He praised their consistency and discipline, noting that steady point gathering, especially against sides near the bottom, creates the foundation for a championship challenge. He also observed that licensed bookmakers reflect this outlook, listing Zenit and Krasnodar among the favorites. The former striker stressed that every extra point earned against weaker opponents can prove decisive in a tightly fought race, a sentiment he described in a Pavlyuchenko interview.
According to his assessment, Lokomotiv Moscow should not be counted among the gold medal contenders for this season. He argued that only Spartak Moscow might mount a credible charge for a podium by collecting enough points, while Dynamo Moscow and CSKA Moscow looked unlikely to reach that level. The analysis pointed to a few clubs that could break away from the pack, but it did not portray the campaign as a wide open field where every club has an equal shot.
After the opening phase of the campaign, Krasnodar led the table with a strong points tally from the early fixtures. Lokomotiv Moscow, the six-year champion, sat close behind Zenit, while Dynamo Moscow held a mid-table position. Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow occupied positions near the middle, with several teams breathing down the leaders as the early results suggested a season full of twists. The standings underscored a competitive start where multiple clubs could influence the final outcome, a fact echoed in a league-wide recap of results.
Earlier remarks by Artem Dzyuba stirred talk about a future coaching path. The veteran striker hinted that a career on the sidelines could be on the horizon, another layer to the discussion about how Russian football talents transition after their playing days. The commentary about coaching ambitions complemented Pavlyuchenko’s observations about the title chase and the evolving landscape of the league, illustrating how players often reshape their identities after retirement.