Two Dzyuba penalties bring Zenit closer to the title

Two penalties transformed by Artem Dzyuba led to the comeback against Samara from Zenit Saint Petersburg (2-1), that each day is closer to the title of the Russian League. With six days to go, Sergey Semak's team has twelve points ahead of Lokomotiv Moscow, who visit Rubin Kazan on Saturday.

Zenit's third win in a row had more difficulties than expected because bottom Samara took advantage on the brink of rest with Maksim Glushenkov's goal. It was in the second part, in six minutes, when the game took a turn. Two penalties, transformed by Artem Dzyuba in 64 and 70 led to the comeback of the St. Petersburg team. Samara scored a second goal, in 78, but the VAR canceled the goal of Croatian Dejan Radonic.

In the other meeting on Friday, Grozny and Sochi tied (1-1). The visitors took advantage in the half hour thanks to Denis Glushakov but on the brink of the interval Nikita Burmistrov equalized for Grozny, that can fall into relegation positions at the end of the twenty-fourth day also marked by the coronavirus.

The health crisis threatens again to cause a collapse in the tournament due to the positives in the squads of three teams, which has forced to cancel a game and summon youth for two other meetings this weekend. The Russian league executive confirmed that the match that had to face Orenburg, penultimate, and Krasnodar, second classified, will not be held on Saturday due to the six positives of the local team.

Another affected shock is that of Rostov, who already had to resort to youth to face Sochi a week ago. The same situation can be seen in the clash against Arsenal Tula on Saturday. In addition, three Dinamo Moscow players tested positive and will have to turn to lower-tier players for the derby with CSKA.