The Russian Super Cup will be contested in the early hours of Sunday, with Zenit St Petersburg taking on Spartak Moscow. Based on squad depth and recent form, Zenit appear to hold the edge, and having long become synonymous with this competition, they will be determined to win and lift the trophy again.
Zenit sit top of the Russian Super Cup's all-time list. The competition has a 23-year history, and Zenit have won it a record nine times, including one run of five straight titles. However, Lokomotiv Moscow, who won the Super Cup last season, now have eight titles and are closing in on Zenit's lead.
By contrast, Spartak Moscow's record in this competition is far less impressive. They have won the Russian Super Cup only once, back in 2017, which also reflects how their overall competitiveness in recent years has lagged behind Zenit.
Recent form also points in Zenit's favour. They have continued to show the composure and pedigree of a dominant Russian Premier League side, going unbeaten in six friendlies with four wins and two draws. During that run, Zenit scored 15 goals in total and conceded fewer than one goal per game on average.
Spartak Moscow played four friendlies during the off-season and posted two wins, one draw and one defeat. Even so, they managed only one draw and one loss in their last two matches, failed to score in either game, and were beaten 2-0 by Lokomotiv Moscow in their most recent outing. Overall, their condition looks notably less convincing.
Zenit's balance between attack and defence has long been the foundation of their domestic success. Last season, they scored 53 goals and conceded 19 in the league, a record that underpinned their title-winning campaign ahead of Krasnodar. Maksim Glushenkov was a key attacking figure, scoring nine league goals and providing eight assists last season. His direct involvement in 17 goals was the highest in the squad, making him one of the main contributors to the title. He also has a notable connection with Spartak, having played for the club from 2019 to 2022, which adds extra motivation for him in this meeting.
Although Spartak Moscow finished only fourth in the league last season, they did eliminate Zenit on penalties in Regional Cup Semi-final 2 of the Russian Cup. Removing their biggest obstacle boosted the team's confidence, and they went on to win the Russian Cup. That run highlighted their unpredictable knockout-game edge and is also the reason they are competing for the Russian Super Cup, which means Zenit cannot afford to take them lightly.