Former Russian national team footballer Yuri Zhirkov, based in St. Petersburg, described the city as the football capital of Russia on Sports Express. He emphasized that the title of football capital is not fixed and can shift depending on which club is lifting the trophy at the end of the season. Zhirkov asserted that any city could claim the crown, but at present it is St. Petersburg that holds the distinction because its team is on top of the standings. If another club such as Krasnodar wins the championship, the title would naturally move to Krasnodar, he explained.
As of the twenty-second week of play, Krasnodar sits at the top of the Russian Premier League with 38 points. In the wake of the season’s final rounds, Zenit Saint Petersburg dropped to second place with 36 points, while Dinamo Moscow sits in third. Marcel Lička’s squad has collected 32 points, placing them ahead of Lokomotiv Moscow with 31 points and Spartak Moscow with 30. The race for the top positions continues to be tight, with every matchday influencing the relative standings in meaningful ways.
Samara’s Wings of the Soviets finished the calendar year in a respectable sixth position with 29 points, while Rubin Kazan is seventh with 28 points. CSKA Moscow sits eighth, also on 28 points, highlighting how close the mid-table battleground remains and how important each result is for regional clubs seeking European qualification or a strong domestic finish. The league remains highly competitive, featuring a mix of traditional powerhouses and ambitious newer sides.
Earlier in Orenburg, discussions centered on the transfer of Lucas Veras to Lokomotiv. That move was watched closely by fans and analysts who consider it a potential turning point for Lokomotiv’s campaign, given the player’s versatility and experience at the top level. The transfer landscape in this period underscores how clubs balance squad depth with financial prudence as they navigate the challenges of a demanding season.