Newly-crowned champions CSKA Moscow will have one eye on next weekend’s Russian Cup final when they round off their league campaign at Rostov on Sunday.
The Red Army side added a fourth Russian title to seven Soviet titles after a goalless draw with Kuban Krasnodar a week ago and coach Leonid Slutsky has decided to rotate his squad ahead of the Cup final in Grozny on June 1.
Despite missing midfielders Zoran Tocis, Aleksandr Cauna and Mario Fernandez due to injury, with Ivory Coast marksman Seydou Doumbia also out with muscle pain, Slutsky has decided to give Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda the afternoon off.
“We decided to give Honda some rest as we prepare him for the cup final. We also hope that Doumbia will be able to play at Grozny,” Slutsky said in a recent interview.
“Fernandez, who suffered a knee injury, will miss the cup final while the return of Cauna, who is suffering nerve inflammation, is hard to predict.”
Although the top three positions are already decided, with last year’s champions Zenit St Petersburg guaranteed to finish second and big-spenders Anzhi Makhachkala third, other clubs will battle for places in the next season’s Europa League.
Russia’s most decorated side Spartak Moscow, Kuban Krasnodar, Dynamo Moscow, Rubin Kazan and Terek Grozny all have a chances to win the right to represent Russia in Europe next season.