Match Report
The table gap was wide: 24 points between Anzhi (1st, 75 pts) and Volgar Astrakhan (12th, 51 pts). Anzhi had been under-performing their position — 5th on five-round form against 1st in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Anzhi 1.61 scored and 0.82 conceded per game, Volgar Astrakhan 1.05 and 1.08, with the league averaging 1.14.
Momentum sat with Anzhi, winners of their last four. Volgar Astrakhan's last three games had all finished level. Anzhi had banked 13 of the last 15 points on offer; Volgar Astrakhan, 7.
Anzhi-Arena, capacity 28,000, hosted the game. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 1-0.
Goal scorers
Anzhi: Otar Martsvaladze (56')




