It was a mixed week for number 2. ranked Zenit St. Petersburg; a shocking defeat away to FC Twente in the Europa League on Thursday followed by a 1:0 away win over number 22. Terek Groznyi. The heavy away loss to FC Twente puts a big dent into Zenit's hopes of winning the competition. The 2010 runners-up CSKA also suffered a defeat in the Europa League, the army men lost 1:0 at home to Portuguese league leaders FC Porto. In the domestic league CSKA had little trouble with financially troubled Amkar Pern, winning 2:0 on the night. Spartak Moskva (who wear black kits because their colors clashed with Ajax home jerseys) were victories in their voyage to the Netherlands, grabbing a surprising 1:0 win over Ajax. The home team (Ajax) dominated the first half but couldn't penetrate Spartak's defense and keeper Dykan. The second half both teams started evenly, and a well crafted strike by Alex proved to be a winning goal. On the domestic front Spartak suffered a humiliating away defeat to number 17. Rostov (0:4). In the central game in the opening weekend of games in Russia, number 9. Locomotive Moskva beat their city rivals number 10. Dinamo Moskva 3:2 at Luzhniki stadium. Number 5. Rubin got their first win of the year by defeating newly promoted 25. Kuban, and newly promoted FC Volga beat at home number 18. FC Tom 2:0.
In Ukraine after a convincing win over AS Roma at home (3:0), number 1. Shakhtar suffered their first defeat in the league since September, away to number 12. Karpaty, who recorded their first win of the season (1:0). Dynamo continued their flawless start of the year with two home 2:0 wins over Manchester City in the Europa League round of 16 game, and Vorskla Poltava in UFPL. Dynamo remains the only club to win all of their games so far. The central match in the league was between number 7. Metalist and number 11. Dnipro. The game ended in a 2:2 draw after Metalist rallied after going behind 0:2 in the second half.
In Moldova the game between the top two teams ended in a 1:1 draw. Both Sheriff and Dachia remain unbeaten in the league this calendar year. We only have cup games in Belarus since their spring campaign doesn't start until first weekend in April. Here are the rankings following all games:
1. FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 3-1 out 4
2. FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 4-2 out 6
3. PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) 3-2 out 6
4. FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 5-0
5. FC Rubin Kazan (RUS) 1-1 out 3
6. FC Spartak Moskva (RUS) 3-1 out 5
7. FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 0-2 out 4
8. FC Bate Borisov (BLR) 1-0
9. FC Locomotiv Moskava (RUS) 1-0
10. FC Dinamo Moskva (RUS) 0-1
11. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR) 0-0 out 2
12. FC Karpaty Lviv (UKR) 1-0 out 2
13. FC Spartak Nalchik (RUS) 1-0
14. FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MLD) 5-0 out 7
15. FC Arsenal Kyiv (UKR) 0-0 out 2
16. SC Tavriya Simferopol (UKR) 1-0 out 2
17. FC Rostov Rostov-na-Donu (RUS)1-0
18. FC Tom Tomsk (RUS) 0-1
19. FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) 0-1 out 2
20. FC Metalurg Donetsk (UKR) 1-1 out 2
21. FC Volyn Lutsk (UKR) 0-1 out 2
22. FC Obolon Kyiv (UKR) 1-0 out 2
23. FC Terek Groznyi (RUS) 0-1
24. FC Zorya Lugansk (UKR) 1-0 out 2
25. FC Volga Nizhniy Novgorod (RUS) 1-0
With pour starts to the domestic campaign both Anzhi and Kuban loose their spots in the top 25. The teams that replace them are FC Zoria who were snubbed in the initial rankings and newly promoted Russian side FC Volga.
Week 3 (March 14-21, 2011).
In the second week of the Russian league campaign both number 2. Zenit and number 5. Rubin recorded their second wins. Both teams won 2:0 at home against Anzhi and 23. Terek respectably. In the Europa League Zenit won their home game against FC Twente 2:0, but the Dutch side moved on in the competition with 3:2 aggregate score. CSKA had a uphill battle against FC Porto after suffering a home defeat a week earlier. The Moscow side lost 2:1 away, their second defeat in the competition and second against Porto. The Monday away game against Krylia was postponed due to pour pitch conditions in Samara. On other hand FC Spartak recorded their second win over demoralized Ajax, 3:0 on the night and 4:0 on aggregate. They also recorded their first win in the league by defeating 25. FC Volga 1:0 at home. Number 9. Locomotive suffered their first defeat of the season to unranked FC Amkar. Another Moscow side Dinamo recorded their first win of the season with a convincing win over 17. Rostov 3:1. FC Krasnodar also produced a strong display in a 2:0 win over Spartak Nalchik.
In Ukraine 1. Shakhtar had an easy outing at home against 21. Volyn (4:0). The sole representative from Ukraine in the Europa League Dynamo suffered their first defeat of the year to Manchester City. Although the Ukrainian side suffered 1:0 defeat on the night, it is them who progress to the next round 2:1 on aggregate. Only three days after their match in Manchester, the side traveled to 11. Dnipro. The game ended with the same score-line as in Manchester, meaning that Dynamo suffered two defeats in a span on four days. Watching the game one could see that Dynamo lacked pace and motivations, factors that helped the team in previous five games. The long flight from Manchester straight to Dnipropetrovsk coupled with only two days of rest affected the team tremendously. Number 7. Metalist recorded their third successive draw in the league, which means that the side from Kharkiv is yet to taste victory in the spring campaign. Somewhat unexpectedly 12. Karpaty lost to the second team from the bottom in the league PFC Sevastopol (3:1). Number 15. FC Arsenal recorded their first win of the season, which moved the side from the capital into the 6th position. A real drama unveiled in Zaporizhzha, where the local side Metalurg led 2:0 for most of the game against 16. Tavriya, only to concede two goals in extra time that left the bottom side with only a point. Here are the rankings after week 3:
1. FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 4-1 out 5
2. FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 6-2 out 8
3. PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) 3-3 out 7
4. FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 5-2 out 7
5. FC Spartak Moskva (RUS) 5-1 out 7
6. FC Rubin Kazan (RUS) 2-1 out 4
7. FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 0-2 out 5
8. FC Bate Borisov (BEL) 1-0
9. FC Locomotiv Moskava (RUS) 1-1 out 2
10. FC Dinamo Moskva (RUS) 1-1 out 2
11. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR) 1-0 out 3
12. FC Karpaty Lviv (UKR) 1-1 out 3
13. FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MLD) 6-0 out 8
14. FC Spartak Nalchik (RUS) 1-1 out 2
15. FC Arsenal Kyiv (UKR) 1-0 out 3
16. SC Tavriya Simferopol (UKR) 1-0 out 3
17. FC Rostov Rostov-na-Donu (RUS)1-1 out 2
18. FC Metalurg Donetsk (UKR) 1-1 out 3
19. FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) 0-1 out 3
20. FC Obolon Kyiv (UKR) 1-1 out 3
21. FC Zorya Lugansk (UKR) 2-0 out 3
22. FC Tom Tomsk (RUS) 0-2
23. FC Volyn Lutsk (UKR) 0-2 out 3
24. FC Krasnodar (RUS) 1-0 out 3
25. FC Volga Nizhniy-Novgorod (RUS) 1-1 out 2
Two strong wins for Spartak Moskva moves them into the 5th position above FC Rubin who started the domestic campaign very well. After suffering their second consecutive defeat in the league, ambitious Terek Groznyi left the top 25 and was replaced by promoted side FC Krasnodar, who are making their first appearance in the top 25. Loses for FC Tom Tomsk and FC Volyn Lutsk significantly worsened positions for both clubs. In the opposite direction, FC Zoria moved up three spots. FC Sheriff's strong domestic campaign start pushed the Moldovan side one spot up to 13th.
There are no official games next weekend because of the international break. The first week of April will mark the beginning of the Belorussian league and quarter-final games in both the Champion League and the Europa League. In meantime many clubs from East Europe will play friendlies to keep in form.
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