At the conclusion of the 2022/2023 Russian Premier League season, Torpedo Moscow and Khimki, two clubs rooted in the Moscow region, faced direct relegation from the top flight after finishing in 16th and 15th places respectively. The campaign closed with Torpedo and Khimki unable to secure safety, sealing their fate for another year in Russian football’s premier division.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod sits in 13th place with 30 points, while Fakel Voronezh occupies the 14th spot with the same tally. Both teams earned the opportunity to continue competing at the highest level through a playoff format designed to determine which clubs will remain in the Premier League and which will drop to the second tier. Pari NN will meet an established First Division side, Motherland, which earned a fifth place finish in the second tier. Fakel Voronezh will square off against Yenisei, a fourth-placed team from the First Division. These playoff ties will go ahead as scheduled, with the First Division clubs hosting the opening legs to kick off the series of matches that will decide the fate of both clubs and their ambitions for staying in the top division.
The schedule for the playoff clashes is set, with the first leg and the decisive return leg lined up for early June. The arrangement ensures that the First Division teams bring fresh pressure to bear in the away environment, while the Premier League participants look to leverage home comforts in the second encounter. It will be a test of nerves, tactical discipline, and the ability to manage the pressures that come with a do-or-die edge in a season-defining playoff scenario.
Notably, Baltika Kaliningrad and Rubin Kazan earned direct promotion from the First Division to the Premier League, bypassing the playoff format entirely. Their ascent marks an important shift in the composition of the top tier, adding new dynamics and challenges for the clubs already established in the league. The promotion of these two teams has implications for competitiveness, scheduling, and the overall balance within Russian football as the new season approaches.
Looking back at the broader context of the season, Lokomotiv Moscow secured the seventh place in the final standings, a finish that reflects the ongoing evolution and realignment within the league. The season’s curtain call highlights both the triumphs and the trials experienced by teams across Russia, underscoring the importance of consistent form, depth in squad rotation, and strategic planning for the rigors of a long campaign. The results set up an intriguing playoff phase and an anticipated renewal of rivalries and narratives as clubs prepare for another six-month sprint toward league glory and European qualification opportunities.