Former Rostov mentor Sergei Balakhnin outlined his expectations for the upcoming Russian Premier League clash between Rostov and Akhmat Grozny. He suggested Rostov would enter the match as the quicker team to seize control, arguing that Rostov enjoys home advantage and that Akhmat is contending with a sizable injury list among their attacking options. According to Balakhnin, Rostov’s familiarity with their home environment and Akhmat’s current squad health could tilt the balance in favor of the host side, a view supported by recent form and positional context.
The Rostov vs Akhmat game is scheduled for May 28 with kick-off set for 19:00 Moscow time. Rostov sits in fourth place on the table with 50 points, while Akhmat trails closely in fifth with 49 points. The matchup represents a meaningful late-season encounter as both teams press to secure a strong finish and improve their standing ahead of the final stretch of the campaign, with every point carrying significance for European qualification prospects and domestic pride.
Meanwhile, Saint Petersburg’s Zenith clinched the Russian championship, earning the top spot as the season nears its end. In the pursuit, CSKA Moscow holds second place with 54 points, and Spartak Moscow sits third with 53 points. The race for the podium remains tightly contested as Guillermo Abascal’s squad negotiates the remaining rounds, aiming to consolidate momentum and maximize opportunities in the closing fixtures of the league.
Veteran goalkeeper Anzor Kavazashvili, renowned for his time with Spartak Moscow and the former USSR national team, offered analysis on Rostov’s recent sequence of results in the final phase of the league. Kavazashvili pointed to a series of difficult outcomes for Rostov in the closing period, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments, defensive solidity, and sharper finishing if the team hopes to reverse any negative momentum and resume climbing the standings in the final weeks of the season.