In the Russian Premier league, last year’s top three outfits – Zenit St Petersburg, CSKA and Rubin – have victoriously started their new campaigns.
Russia’s longest ever football season got underway on Saturday. This year the teams are switching to the winter format for the first time, meaning the fans and players have 14 months of football ahead, including three games on Sunday.
Kuban 0-2 Rubin
The first of Sunday’s games saw Rubin start well on their quest for a third domestic crown in four years. The Kazan team won away to Dan Petrescu’s Kuban.
Goal numberone came seven minutes into the second half through Alan Kasaev.
Christian Noboa then made sure right at the death. The Ecudorian fired home from the spot after Vladimir Dyadyun was adjudged to have been felled in the area.
CSKA 2-0 Amkar
Last year’s runners-up, CSKA, also showed little rust against Amkar, winning by the same 2-0 scoreline.
Central back Sergey Ignashevich made a brace in Luzhniki, firing home in each of the halfs.
Terek 0-1 Zenit
Reigning Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg have just ensured they will also take a share of the top of the table after beating Terek Grozny 1-0 away. The only goal came 14 minutes into the game courtesy of Danko Lazovic, who was assisted by Miguel Danny.