Zenit brushed aside Krylia Sovetov last Friday with a 3-0 win, a score that ensured them a place in the top half of the table. In the 5th minute of the match, a handball gave Zenit a penalty which was taken by Andrei Mostovoy. The goalkeeper parried his shot, but the Russian forward was quick to send the ball straight back into the net on the rebound. Denis Yakuba’s foul on Malcom in the area seven minutes later gave the referee a decision to make, signalling for another penalty to Zenit, which was dispatched by Daler Kuzyaev. Unfortunately, the midfielder sustained an injury to his right knee halfway through the match and will sit out the next few games. The 31st minute saw Mostovoy steam into the area, playing consecutive one-two passes with Claudinho and Malcom before squeezing in a shot from the byline, scoring a brace that completed the scoring
Lokomotiv Moscow start the game in the bottom half of the league, despite snatching a dramatic last gasp equaliser in their last game against Rostov. A Penalty on the 35th minute from Anton Miranchuk cancelled out the early header from Nikolay Komlichenko. A goalkeeping error gave Rostov the lead in the 88th minute through Daniil Utkin, but an impressive bicycle kick from Konstantin Maradishvili in the fourth minute of extra time levelled the score once more.
The side from the capital have a new Head Coach in German Josef Zinnbauer, who had previously managed Hamburg and Orlando Pirates.
Despite Zinnbauer’s preference for a 4-3-3 arrangement, Lokomotiv utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation reminiscent of Marko Nikolic’s style in their opening games of the season.
The Railwaymen recorded 30 shots in their opening game against Pari Nizhny Novgorod but only 5 shots were on target. Wilson Isidor was on target that game. The 21-year-old French forward was signed in January 2022 and has scored 8 times for the club since signing from Monaco.
Guinean Francois Kamano has taken to the league since signing, playing well on the left with dutchman Gyrano Kerk flying down the right for the Moscow side.
Zinnbauer looked to strengthen Lokomotiv's defence this summer after losing key figure, Pablo. Loko looked to fellow countryman Lucas Fasson, signing the centre-back from Campeonato Brasileiro side Atletico Paranaense.
Frenchman Alexis Beka Beka will miss Saturday’s contest after picking up a red card in the game against Rostov.
When the teams last faced off at the Gazprom arena last April, the reigning champions took ran out 3-1 winners. Zenit were behind in the 4th minute before Ivan Sergeev levelled the score in the 27th. Subsequent goals from Malcom in the 42nd minute and Mostovoy in the 77th confirmed the win.
When asked about his expectations ahead of the match, Semak said:
“[Lokomotiv] is a team that plays attacking football with a lot of confrontation, they’re fast, and with a good squad. Above all, their attackers are strong and quick players individually."
"We expect a tough and interesting game.”
Zenit v Lokomotiv kicks off at 5.30pm St. Petersburg time and will be broadcast live on the RPL YouTube channel for viewers outside of Russia.
