Russian Premier League Predictions: Luciano Spalletti Will Win the Title with Zenit

New Russian football season starts on Friday night. Here are my predictions for final standings – a little bit assuming, of course, but hopefully not so far from being true.

1. Zenit Saint Petersburg

The most solid line-up. Great Italian coach. And the new president of Russian Football Union is actually ex-Zenit boss who won the league in 2007.

2. Rubin Kazan

Great Turkmen coach. No, really, Kurban Berdyev is the man behind the two league titles and victory over Barcelona in Champions League.

3. Lokomotiv Moscow

The best stadium in Russia. Lots of money spent on transfer market. Oleksandr Aliyev of Ukraine and Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria, two key players, hold Russian passports.

4. CSKA Moscow

Leonid Slutsky, the most promising Russian coach. Alan Dzagoev, the best young player. Keisuke Honda (€6 mln), the most expensive signing.

5. Spartak Moscow

Four Brazilians and lots of young guns – altogether they are strong but totally unpredictable. Very poor goalkeeper.

6. Dynamo Moscow

Totally renewed line-up. Konstantin Sarsania, the best financial manager in Russia. Young, but old-fashioned coach (imagine Harry Redknapp in his 40s).

7. Saturn Ramenskoe

Experienced side, lots of players in their 30s. Extremely young (34) and promising coach.

8. FC Rostov

Lots of good players for reasonable money – at least enough to make the top half.

9. Amkar Perm

The same as FC Rostov. But one place lower.

10. Terek Grozny

Strong political support. Will fix up few home matches.

11. Tom Tomsk

Remember that coach behind Cameroon at World Cup 1990? He is now in charge of poor Siberian side.

12. Spartak Nalchik

Yury Krasnozhan, the immanent coach of what’s-his-name squad, will keep the place in top flight.

13. Sibir Novosibirsk

Newly-promoted side from the heart of Siberia. Will secure the promotion because of good defense.

14. Krylia Sovetov Samara

Totally in debt. Half the players are from reserves. But they have never left the Premier League.

15. Alania Vladikavkaz

Dishonestly took the place of FC Moscow. Will be punished by relegation.

16. Anzhi Makhachkala

No strikers. No midfield. No future.

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