Zenit St Petersburg out to increase lead in Russia

Moscow: Zenit St Petersburg will be looking to increase their lead in the Russian Premier League on Sunday when they host strugglers Rostov.

Andre Villas-Boas`s side, who are six points clear of second-placed FC Krasnodar, need to win twice in the four remaining matches to ensure their fourth Russian title regardless of the other results.

But despite the fact that Zenit won 5-0 in the season`s first meeting with Rostov in September, the St Petersburg side`s manager is telling his men to expect a tough return encounter.

"We expect them (Rostov) to be very strong as their results have improved a great deal since the league resumed (after winter break)," the former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenhan head coach said Friday.

"(Kurban) Berdyev is a winning coach, having won two titles with Rubin Kazan. He has organised Rostov very well especially their defence. Now they look strong and well-organised.

"But on Sunday we will aim to continue to do our regular job. We will try to win the game to move one step nearer to winning the title. Otherwise the gap on Krasnodar will be closer and closer.

"The main thing is that Zenit have topped the league from the very beginning of the championship. And we hope that we will finish the league in first place as well."

Second-placed FC Krasnodar, who are unbeaten in their last 15 Premiership matches, remain on course to finish in the top two and secure a place in the Champions League third qualifying round next season.

"Our performance and our results this season are serving as a good stimulus for the team," FC Krasnodar head coach Oleg Kononov said.

"We`re set to play each of our remaining matches like the last one to prove that we`re deservedly in contention for the title. And we`re going to keep Zenit under pressure until the very end of the championship."

On Monday Krasnodar, who need to chalk up nine more points to secure their Champions League spot, will take on strugglers Amkar Perm, who have grabbed seven points in their last three matches to stay just one point above the relegation places.

FC Krasnodar are four points better off than defending champions CSKA Moscow, who will have to beat city rivals Lokomotiv on Sunday to keep their own Champions League hopes alive. 

"The match with Lokomotiv open a series of very hard matches at the season`s end," CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky said. "But we have no other choice but to battle for the win in all of our remaning games."

Meanwhile, Lokomotiv are the only Premiership team with a positive head-to-head record against the Red Army side.

The railway-backed outfit have won 21 matches, while CSKA celebrated victory on 16 occasions in the post-Soviet era. Seven of their meetings have ended in a draw.
Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Ural Yekaterinburg v Ufa (1330), Rubin Kazan v Kuban Krasnodar (1600)
Sunday

Lokomotiv Moscow v CSKA Moscow (1030), Dynamo Moscow v Torpedo Moscow (1300), Zenit St Petersburg v Rostov (1530)
Monday

Terek Grozny v Spartak Moscow (1030), Mordovia Saransk v Arsenal Tula (1300), FC Krasnodar v Amkar Perm (1730)