Pavel Pogrebnyak, a former member of the Russian national football team, assessed the chances of CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow finishing second in the 2022/23 Russian Premier League season. He leaned toward the army club, noting they enjoy home advantage and that the team showed promise in the second half of the campaign. Pogrebnyak highlighted Chalov starting to find the net and Zabolotny performing at a high level, while he pointed to Rostov as a variable side whose form could swing their title hopes. This perspective appeared in a detailed interview with Championship.
In the season’s final round, CSKA was set to host Rostov in Moscow, while Spartak prepared for an away match against Wings of the Soviets. Both fixtures were scheduled for June 3 with kickoffs at 17:00 Moscow time. The schedule placed a premium on closing performances as clubs chased the best possible finish in a tightly contested table.
Following the 29th round, CSKA’s squad, managed by Vladimir Fedotov, sat second with 55 points. Guillermo Abascal’s Spartak trailed closely with 54 points, and Rostov stood at 53, occupying fourth as they also chased a place in the top tier. Zenit remained the league leader after clinching the title in the 26th round, consolidating their position atop the standings.
Meanwhile, the narrative surrounding the race included reflections from former CSKA player Jiri Yaroshik and insights from Marcel Lichka, the head coach of Orenburg, who was in St. Petersburg alongside Czech legionnaires rather than Brazilian players. The developments in St. Petersburg were noted as a potential influence on Zenit’s drive toward the championship, underscoring how coaching movements and squad partnerships can shape outcomes in the Russian Premier League.