Champions League hunt: Rubin Kazan

By: j | September 3rd, 2008

With ten matches left in the Rosgosstrakh Football Championship, Rubin Kazan are in the drivers seat for their first championship. There upcoming match against Dynamo Moscow, which has been moved to September 14, will go a long way in deciding the race although they do have a very challenging schedule. However not only will this match have a massive influence on the title but equally the hunt for Champions League spots.

This is a particularly interesting point to consider as the Russian Premier League as with revised qualification rules, the Russian Premier League will be allocated three spots, two automatically in the group stage and the third in the second qualifying round. Through the international break we’ll be looking at the title race and the important run for the Champions League.

Starting first with Rubin Kazan, they have a tough series of matches through September but they will benefit greatly from lack of involvement in Champions League or UEFA Cup that will certainly hinder Zenit Saint Petersburg, CSKA Moscow and FC Moscow. In addition with only Sergei Ryzhykov and Sergei Semak named to Guus Hiddink’s Russian squad, Kurban Berdyyev’s club should be well rested.

Of critical importance will be the upcoming match against Dynamo Moscow. It is an enormous six-point match, in which a victory would all but mathematically guarantee the championship. Failing a collapse, given the White-Blues (Dynamo) have a gruesome schedule down the stretch that includes Samara Kryliya Sovetov, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow and Zenit Saint Petersburg in the next to last week, a victory would provide Rubin Kazan clear sailing to the title and Champions League bid. There veteran core of Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Serhiy Rebrov, Roman Sharonov and of-course Sergei Semak will need to stay composed in this high pressure situation and stay focused.

Rubin Kazan remaining matches
Sep 14 Dynamo Moscow
Sep 21 @ Spartak Moscow
Sep 28 FC Moscow
Oct 4 @ Spartak Nalchik
Oct 18 Shinnik Yaroslav
Oct 25 @ Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Nov 2 @ Saturn Moscow
Nov 9 Terek Grozny
Nov 16 @ CSKA Moscow
Nov 22 Lokomotiv Moscow