FC Moscow’s pressure only weakened after the visitors lost their best attacker Hector Bracamonte through injury.

Zenit went in front after the break, thanks to defender Ivica Krizanac, who showed the dribbling skills of a real striker.

The holding onto of a minimal advantage against the team that topped the table ahead of the summer break was not at all easy for the hosts. The Moscow team went on an all-out attack and soon got the chance for a penalty after Pavel Pogrebnyak brought Gia Grigalava down in the box.

Aleksandr Samedov stepped up against Zenit keeper Kamil Čontofalský, but couldn’t send the ball into the net.

Several minutes later, FC Moscow midfielder Edgaras Česnauskis hit the post with a long range effort, which was his team’s last big chance of the game.

The 1-0 score allows Zenit to move to fourth place (22 points) in the table, some five points away from leaders Rubin Kazan. The Muscovites are third with 23 points.

Lokomotiv Moscow 0-0 FC Tom

The first home game for Yury Semin since coming back as Lokomotiv coach turned out to be pretty disappointing as the hosts were held to a 0-0 draw by FC Tom.

Loko currently sit ninth in the Premier League standings, while FC Tom are focused more on their financial struggle, due to the fact that their players haven’t been paid since the start of the season.

Kuban Krasnodar 2-2 Spartak Nalchik

In the last match on Sunday, Kuban were also held to a draw by visitors Spartak Nalchik.

It stayed one-all till late in the game, when Kuban's Draman Traore netted their second goal four minutes from time.

However, the hosts were denied a win by an injury time equalizer from Spartak's Artyom Kontsevoy.