In a candid interview with Match TV, Vlastimil Petržhela, the former head coach of Zenit St. Petersburg, named three clubs as likely title contenders for the spring phase of the Russian Premier League season. He pointed out that Krasnodar remains a serious challenger, but Dinamo Moscow has joined the race, making the contest more open than in recent years. Petržel a noted that Zenit isn’t as dominant this season as it has been in the past, which adds intrigue to the second half of the campaign. (Source: Match TV interview with Petržhela, 2024)
After 18 rounds, Krasnodar sits atop the table with 38 points, signaling strong form as the league moves into the spring segment. Zenit St. Petersburg, the reigning champion, stands second with 36 points, followed by Dinamo Moscow in third with 32. Lokomotiv Moscow trails in fourth with 31, and Spartak Moscow sits fifth with 30 points. These positions set up a high-stakes race to the title as the season resumes. (Source: RPL standings after 18 rounds, 2024)
In the late calendar year, Krylya Sovetov finished sixth with 29 points, while Rubin Kazan claimed seventh with 28. CSKA Moscow, in eighth place, sits on the same point total, underscoring a tightly bunched table heading into the spring schedule. The gap among the top eight clubs is narrow, signaling an exciting second half where every point will matter for European qualification and domestic bragging rights. (Source: 2023 final round results and season recap, 2024)
Former CSKA coach Vladimir Fedotov also offered reflections on the latest matches against Krasnodar, highlighting how those results have influenced the balance of power in the league. His observations point to the ongoing competitiveness of the Russian top flight and the depth of squad strength across the big clubs. (Source: Fedotov comments on recent Krasnodar clash, 2024)