Spartak snatch Champions League ticket

Spartak Moscow have grabbed silver medals in the Premier League to represent Russia in the UEFA Champions League together with title holders Zenit Saint Petersburg next season.

­Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 Spartak Moscow

Besides Spartak, there were two other team – CSKA and Dynamo – in hunt for the second spot before the final matchday.

But the Red-and-Whites were the only side in the trio to bag all three points on the night.

Valery Karpin’s men reigned in the air against city rivals from Lokomotiv, with Marek Suchy and Artem Dzyuba each scoring a header in the first 45 minutes.

“This second place is very important,” Spartak’s Artem Dzyuba told Sport-Express. “We weren’t fighting for the championship for a long time, but the silver medal was our goal. Now, in Europe, we will try hard to prove that we deserve this position. I've always dreamt of playing in the Champions League. We’ll do our best to qualify to the group stages. And there,  hopefully, I’ll again show off my best qualities."

Spartak are back into the Champions League after a two-year break, taking the silver medals for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.

Rubin Kazan 3-1 CSKA Moscow

CSKA Moscow, who were Zenit’s main rivals for the gold throughout most of the season, had to settle for bronze in the end.

Keisuke Honda gave the Muscovites the lead in the final seconds of the first half in Kazan, but the hosts replied with three goals from Nelson Haedo Valdez, Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Roman Eremenko after the break.

Kuban Krasnodar 1-0 Dynamo Moscow  

Just a couple of days after losing the Russian Cup finals to Rubin, Dynamo also missed on medals in the Premier League.

The Moscow team, who needed nothing but victory, went a goal behind on the 10th minute, when Lacina Traore made his way through the visiting defense, 1-0.

Zvjezdan Misimovic managed to equalize for Dynamo, but it was too late as the goal came in the 90th minute.

Anzhi Makhachkala 0-2 Zenit Saint Petersburg

Newly-crowned champions Zenit finished the season on a high note by winning in Makhachkala.

There was nothing to play for in the match, which looked more like a friendly with plenty of reserves on the pitch from both sides.   

Zenit appeared to have better substitutes, as Aleksandr Bukharov and Szabolcs Huszti netted for the guests after the break.

Meanwhile, Krylia Sovietov saved themselves from relegation playoffs in Group B.

That happened after the Samara side drew 1-1 against Terek Grozny, and their main rivals Rostov went down 2-1 to FC Tom.

Spartak Nalchik and FC Krasnodar played an entertaining 3-3 draw, while Amkar thrashed visiting Volga 4-1.

Spartak Nalchik and FC Tom are relegated, and will be replaced by Mordovia Saransk and Alania Vladikavkaz next season.

Rostov and Volga will have to defend their places in the Russian top flight against Nizhny Novgorod and Shinnik Yaroslavl.