Valery Gladilin, a former Spartak Moscow player, shared his viewpoint that Moscow can challenge Zenit for the Russian Premier League title in the forthcoming season. The remarks were conveyed by RB Sports and reflect a belief that Spartak Moscow possesses the quality needed to contend at the highest level alongside Zenit, given the current squad composition and depth. Gladilin highlighted one clear weakness in the Reds and Whites lineup—the central defender position—and argued that bringing in a top-tier defender would prevent midfielders from being pulled back into deeper roles. The emphasis is on strengthening central defense to preserve balance across the entire pitch and reduce pressure on the back line as the season progresses, a notion echoed by analysts who follow the team closely [RB Sports].
The start of the new Russian season is anticipated between late July and the early days of August, with the schedule traditionally spreading across 30 rounds and a concluding round typically scheduled toward the end of spring. The league has established a path that often tests teams with a mix of home and away fixtures, and this structure influences how squads approach recruitment, fitness, and tactical planning for the long campaign ahead. This context helps explain why clubs are keen to reinforce key positions before the first whistle of the season, ensuring a steady performance from round one [RB Sports].
In the most recent Russian Premier League campaign, Zenit St. Petersburg secured the title for the fifth straight year, finishing with 70 points from 30 matches and sealing the trophy after a 3-2 victory over Spartak Moscow in the 26th round. The rest of the top tier also demonstrated depth, with CSKA Moscow finishing as runners-up on 58 points and Spartak Moscow occupying third place with 54 points. This trio constituted the core of the league’s elite that season, underscoring the competitive landscape across Russia and highlighting how narrow margins can decide the championship race over the course of 30 fixtures [RB Sports].
Vladislav Radimov, a former Zenit midfielder, offered a measured assessment of the published RPL calendar, suggesting that the number of matches in a given segment ultimately mirrors the same workload across the season. He pointed out that the sequence of opponents at the season’s start has limited impact on overall results, a perspective that adds a practical dimension to scheduling and strategic planning for clubs throughout the league. This viewpoint reflects a broader belief among analysts that consistency, depth, and the ability to sustain performance during dense periods are more crucial than simply avoiding difficult early fixtures [RB Sports].