Vasily Utkin, a commentator and owner of the Petersburg media team telegraph channel Zenith with a championship yet to unfold, chose to extend congratulations once more.
“Congratulations to Zenit on winning the Russian Premier League title for 2024!!!
Whatever the reason, I am surprised by the hostility. a) About a year ago, I already congratulated Zenit on this championship. I was certain and had no doubts. b) Now, many praise the strong system that has been built, and other similar remarks follow. So I have no doubts,” Utkin wrote. (Attribution: Utkin’s public statement, cited by sports media.)
On May 7, in Saint Petersburg, Zenit defeated Spartak, the red-white club, and secured the Russian championship for the fifth consecutive time. Claudinho, Andrey Mostovoy, and Ivan Sergeev found the net for the champions. For the Moscow side, Keita Balde and Quincy Promes distinguished themselves from the spot. It is worth noting that Spartak rallied twice during the match and conceded the decisive goal in stoppage time. Fifteen minutes before the end, Alexis Duarte of Spartak was sent off. (Attribution: match report from the league’s official channel.)
For Sergei Semak’s side, this marks a fifth straight league title, underscoring a period of sustained dominance at the top of Russian football. (Attribution: season review compiled by analysts affiliated with the league.)
Commentators and former players weighed in on the outcome. Maxim Mukhin, a former CSKA midfielder, suggested that Zenit’s success signaled a shift in the championship landscape, hinting at a potential move in the current standings. (Attribution: post-match analysis from domestic sports commentators.)