Yuri Zavarzin, the former president of the Russian Premier League, is predicting a strong season for Zenit St. Petersburg as they prepare to face Zenit St. Louis this campaign. He believes St. Petersburg will again crown themselves champions, noting how the club’s depth and experience give them a clear edge in the title race.
According to Zavarzin, Dinamo will find it tough to contend for the championship. He asserts that Zenit has already established itself as the team to beat, with Dinamo potentially finishing in the top three, but Zenit expected to claim first place once more.
Asked whether Krasnodar could mount a challenge, Zavarzin was decisive that such a scenario is unlikely. He pointed to Zenit’s broader resources and the influence of the home support in St. Petersburg. He added that Krasnodar might not be psychologically ready for the sprint of a championship campaign, a judgment that reflects the mental demands of a long season.
Zenit has secured the Russian Premier League title for the past five seasons in a row, a run that has seen the club add a second star to its jersey to mark the achievement. The dominance is widely recognized across the league, reinforcing Zenit’s status as the team others must chase.
After 18 rounds in the current campaign, Krasnodar led the standings with 38 points as the league entered the winter break. In the 18th round, Vladimir Ivich’s squad edged CSKA 1–0, a result that kept Krasnodar at the top heading into the pause. Zenit stood in second with a narrow gap, while Dinamo trailed closely in third with 32 points, underscoring a tightly contested title race.
The season is set to resume with Russian Cup matches in February, providing Zenit and the other contenders an opportunity to sharpen form and refine strategy ahead of the critical stretch run of the league schedule.
Earlier in the season, Alaev, the former head of the RPL, recognized the best foreign player in the league, underscoring the quality of talent that traverses the Russian domestic calendar and the impact of international players on the competition.