Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg are scheduled for multiple clashes in the 2022/23 season
The two giants of Russian football, Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg, are set to meet at least five times across the 2022/23 campaign. The opening chapter of this rivalry already unfolded when Spartak, fresh from lifting the Russian Cup, faced Zenit, the reigning champions of the Russian Premier League who captured the title for the fourth consecutive time. Zenit triumphed decisively with a 4-0 victory in the Russian Super Cup showcase match in St. Petersburg.
Under the Russian Premier League schedule, the teams will face each other twice, with one match scheduled for September 4 and another on May 6, ensuring a high-profile battle in both the autumn and spring portions of the season.
Following the draw for the Russian Cup, Spartak and Zenit landed in the same group for the RPL Path stage of this year’s tournament. This arrangement guarantees two more meetings between the sides in the group phase. The exact dates are still to be confirmed, but the fixtures promise to add extra weight to the calendar. There is also a possibility that the pair could clash in the knockout rounds should they advance to the later stages of the competition.
As of the current league campaign after five rounds, Spartak sits atop the table with 13 points, while Zenit trails closely in second place with 11 points. Both clubs have shown strong early-season form, contributing to a highly competitive title race and heightened expectations for their upcoming encounters in domestic cups and league fixtures alike.
Reports earlier indicated that the draw for the RPL Road, the group stage portion of the Russian Cup for the 2022/23 season, had been completed. A total of 16 teams competing in the Russian Premier League were separated into four groups, setting the stage for a dynamic and unpredictable run through the cup alongside the league schedule as the season develops.