Football analyst Konstantin Lepekhin suggested that introducing playoffs in the Russian Premier League could rekindle the drama of the national championship. His commentary is a guide for the site Euro-Football.Ru as it analyses ongoing developments and the potential implications for teams across the league.
Lepekhin argued that in recent seasons the title race lost some momentum as the competition wore on, with the winner often decided well before the final rounds. A playoff format, he noted, would inject additional suspense by creating a defined set of high-stakes matches at the end of the season. Yet he also cautioned that this change would not automatically raise the overall quality of play, stressing the need to understand the motives behind such reforms. The core aim, in his view, is to ensure a sufficient number of meaningful games to satisfy fans, broadcasters, and sponsors while preserving competitive balance.
Zenit has dominated the league in recent years, earning the title for five consecutive seasons and subsequently earning a second star on the jersey to mark that achievement. The club’s sustained success has shaped the current narrative of Russian football and raised expectations for continued excellence both domestically and in European competition.
Following 18 rounds, Krasnodar led the standings at the winter break with 38 points. In round 18, Vladimir Ivich’s squad secured a 1–0 victory over CSKA, cementing their position at the summit. Zenit trailed close behind, two points behind Krasnodar, while Dinamo Moscow sat third with 32 points. The table reflects a tight race as the season enters the second half, with several teams still believing they can mount a charge toward the top.
The campaign is set to resume with the Russian Cup fixtures in February, followed by the 19th round of the league schedule that will kick off on March 3. The calendar promises a flurry of important matches that can reshape the standings and influence strategy for both the league and the cup competitions over the remaining months of the season.
Earlier in the campaign, a former RPL chairperson highlighted a forecast that suggested the eventual champion would emerge from among the leading clubs. The prediction underscored the competitive dynamics at the top of the table and the ongoing debate about the most effective format for determining the league champion amid a crowded and ambitious Russian football landscape.