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PREMIER LIGA WEEKEND PREVIEW
Russian Premier Liga matchday eight kicks off today in Vladivostok.

Five matches are scheduled for today while the other three will take place on Sunday.

Saturday program starts in Vladivostok at 11 p.m. as Luch-Energiya take on Tom Tomsk. The teams are neighbors in the standings with seven points in seven matches. Semochko is suspended for the hosts and will have to miss two games while Bugaev, Kulchiy and Lebedkov are injured for Tom.

Amkar host Kuban Krasnodar in Perm and both teams are eager to seal a victory in order to make a step further in the table as they are stuck in the middle of it. Amkar will have to do without injured Kushev, Lavrik and Milovanović and the visitors can’t count on services of Danishenvsky and Ricardo.

Saturn Moscow region entertain Lokomotiv. The visitors delivered a blasting victory over Spartak in Russia Cup so they can use a chance to cut the gap between the leaders. Saturn are without Džiaukštas, Yakubko and Yashin who are injured and Pershin will be out as he was invited to Russia U-19 team to take part at the European championship. Moscow team can’t rely on Spahić, Pelizzoli and Traore.

Top ranking FC Moskva host eight-placed Khimki to grab the fifth win during the season. However Leonid Slutsky has enough injury worries as Adamov and Brakamonte are suspended and Gubnik and Meleshin won’t be able to help the team too. Khimki star Andrey Tikhonov will be out of action though an injury which can tell on the team’s performance.

Saturday program finishes with Dinamo playing against Spartak Nalchik knowing the win can reinforce their position among the leaders. Fifth placed Dinamo are striving to snatch three points in a match against Spartak who look to run further from relegation zone. Dinamo are without services of Pimenov amd Skepsky while Martinov will be the only absentee for the visitors.

Three matches are scheduled for Sunday with Valery Gazzaev’s CSKA flying to Rostov. The champions wil have to play without Dudu, Caner and Carvalho through injuries. The home side have almost no injury headaches as only Maxim Buznikin will be absent.

Spartak are eager to redeem themselves after Russia Cup blasting defeat by Lokomotiv as they cross their swords with Rubin Kazan in Luzhniki. Moscow team grabbed two consecutive 3-0 wins over their Sunday rivals during two previous seasons. The team’s captain Yegor Titov has shaken off his injury and has good chances to contribute to Spartak successful match with bottom-placed Rubin. Vladimir Fedotov won’t be able to see Martin Stranzl playing while the visitors have more losses as Bukharov, Calisto and Vasilyev will be abcent.

The last match os Premier Liga matchday eight will take place in Saint Petersburg where Zenit meet Krylya Sovetov. The hosts can make one step further beating their rivals but the Dutch specialist Dick Advocaat can’t count on injured Dominguez, Lee Ho, Ricksen and Fatih Tekke.