Northern Lights
Like Brazil, Russia has a league season that runs in lock-step with the calendar year. Unlike Brazil however, Russia does it because, despite being in the Northern Hemisphere, the climate it experiences forces it to utilize the short warm months between Spring and Winter.
So, Russia's league starts in March and ends in November.
However, having said all that, the current 2011–12 season is a transitional season, as it will stretch over 18 months instead of the conventional 12 months. The unusual length of the season is the result of the decision to adapt the playing year to an autumn-spring rhythm similar to most of the other UEFA leagues.
The Russian Premier League has 16 teams and plays a double round-robin with 30 games in the first phase. This will be followed by a two tiered second phase - the top eight teams will play in a championship pool and the bottom eight will play in a relegation pool. The top pool will decide the Champions' League and Europa League places.
At the moment Russia's League is ranked seventh in Europe by UEFA. The winner gets a spot in the Champions' League Group Stage while the runners-up heads into the third qualifying round. In recent years, massive backing by businessmen and corporations have injected much needed financial muscle into Russia and they are one of the emerging destinations for some of the World's top talent.
At time of writing we are at the halfway stage with 16 games having been played by all teams. Only league leader CSKA Moscow has played one less.
CSKA lead the league by four points over defending champions Zenit St. Petersburg. With a game in hand over Zenit, CSKA are currently in pole position to finish top of the table in the first phase. However, there are plenty of twists and turns left with the title to be decided in another 11 months.
Intriguingly, Zenit lost its home game to CSKA after it was awarded 3-0 to the visitors for a breach of regulations. Essentially, under league rules, all teams must play at least one player with a Russian passport born in 1990 or later in every league game. Although Zenit drew its encounter 1-1 with CSKA, it did not have such a player in the lineup with none of its seven Russians born on or after January 1 1990. As a result the league awarded the game 3-0 to CSKA. Luciano Spaletti, the Zenit coach, was unaware of the severity of the punishment, being under the impression that a fine would be the maximum penalty. It is disappointing that such a measure was taken in a key encounter between the two best teams in the league. One hopes that the title does not come down to a three goal or one win margin between the two clubs.
CSKA have been the class of the league with 10 wins and 4 draws from their 15 games. Their haul of 31 goals is the best in the league with their defence having conceded a league lowest 10 goals. Their only loss was a home loss to derby rivals Spartak 1-0. Talented coach Leonid Slutsky's charges look good value to hold on to their lead.
Behind them Zenit and Dynamo Moscow are neck and neck with 30 and 29 points respectively. Zenit are struggling to break free of the pack and have been in second gear all season. With arguably the best squad and coaching structure, one expected a repeat of last season's domination. Dynamo on the other hand have had a fallow few years and are enjoying a resurgence that bodes well for the local rivalry amongst Moscow clubs - CSKA, Dynamo, Spartak and Lokomotiv.
Positions 4 - 6 are filled by smaller teams with 2009 winners Rubin Kazan, Anzhi and Kuban sitting in upper mid table while the two remaining Moscow clubs Spartak and Lokomotiv round out the top eight. At the other end of the table, Krylya, Spartak Nalchik and Rostov are in the bottom three. Georgian side Terek Grozny, till recently coached by Ruud Gullit, are in 11th and held Zenit to a draw in the last round.
Top Players:
Seydou Doumbia - With nine goals so far, the Ivorian marksman is leading the charge for league leaders CSKA. Five times he has opened the scoring as Doumbia has allayed uncanny finishing with a complete lack of nerves. With Drogba on his way out, a partnership with Gervinho up front for the national team beckons.
Danko Lazovic - The Serb striker continues to light it up for Zenit. At 26, the hitman is at the peak of his powers and is one half of a powerful striking unit for the team from the western seaport. Spaletti will hope that he stays healthy for Zenit to last the course and pick up more silverware.
Alexander Kerzhakov - The Butch Cassidy to Lazovic's Sundance, the former Sevilla frontman has taken off from where he left last season. Seven goals and a brace of assists provides the able foil that Lazovic needs at the spearhead of the Zenit attack. A fan favourite and national team forward, his presence brings an experienced local connection.
Sergei Ignashevich - In addition to having a stellar season at the back as an ever present for his club, the CSKA captain has chipped in with four goals and an assist to lead the title charge. At 31, the veteran is a stalwart at the back and arguably the best defender in the league.
Keisuke Honda - Another CSKA player having a solid season, the Japanese midfielder and free kick expert, has rifled in four goals despite only starting nine times. Having brought his impressive array of passing to a tireless running game, Honda has been instrumental on the left side of the CSKA midfield.
Roman Adamov - A diamond in the rough with Rostov, the lanky striker's six goals have kept his team hovering just above and about the relegation zone. The team needs him to stay healthy and continue scoring - four times he has been the player to get his team on the board.
Pavel Golyshev - The main man behind Tom Tomsk's league campaign, the wily midfielder is at the heart of everything his team creates and is the leading scorer for them with six goals along with three assists. At 23, his best days are still ahead of him.
Igor Akinfeev - Still the best keeper in the land and the best custodian East of the Elbe. At 25, Akinfeev is well on his way to becoming the equal of legendary Soviet stopper Lev Yashin. Strong in the air, cultured in his distribution and possessing excellent reflexes, he gives both club and country a cornerstone in net.
*It has just emerged that Anzhi Makhachkala, sixth in the league, have had a $45 million bid for Neymer accepted by Santos. Although Anzhi are the least favoured of the five clubs to have made such a bid, it reflects the growing ambition of Russian clubs.
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