The host, looking to keep its place in the top flight, took the lead after eight minutes through Razvan Cocis and Dmitri Kirichenko doubled its advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Substitute Roman Adamov added a third in the 70th minute.

The other tie was rather more finely poised as Volga Nizhny Novgorod, also looking to avoid the drop, came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Nizhny Novgorod.

Aleksandr Salougin put Nizhny Novgorod ahead in the 33rd minute, but IIya Maksimov netted in the 61st and 65th minutes to give Volga a narrow advantage going into the second leg.

Emery has already announced he will be leaving Valencia over the northern summer and Fedun is confident the Spaniard is Moscow-bound.

Fedun said: "We'll have a new coach next season, that will be Unai Emery."

Emery will take over from Valery Karpin, who guided Spartak to a second-place finish in the Russian Premier League and a spot in next season's Champions League.

"Valery Karpin has built the basis of the team but we need new coaching solutions," Fedun added.

Emery has struggled to win over the supporters at Valencia in his four-year spell at the Mestalla.

However, he leaves with a good record despite the club's financial problems which have clouded his tenure.

Los Che came sixth in 2009 - his first season in charge, and followed that up with three successive third-place finishes.

Karpin is expected to remain at Spartak as general director.

The 43-year-old will step down as Croatia boss after Euro 2012 to take up the reins at the Russian club on a three-year contract.

Lokomotiv president Olga Smorodskaya told the club's website: "I am very pleased we have managed to hire such a strong and eminent coach.

"Bilic is one of the best coaches in Europe and in trying to get him we had to beat off competition from several clubs, including in the English Premier League."

Spartak was a 2-0 winner at Lokomotiv Moscow, while CSKA stumbled to a 3-1 setback away to Rubin Kazan, meaning they switched positions and CSKA now has a UEFA Europa League campaign ahead of it.

Spartak scored its goals before half-time in the capital derby, with Marek Suchy giving it a 23rd-minute lead and Artem Dzjuba adding a second in the 40th minute.

The news from Kazan was good for Spartak, as CSKA let a half-time lead slip away, conceding twice late in the game to drop to third place.

Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda put CSKA in front in the 45th minute, but Rubin levelled in the 47th minute and then nudged ahead when Gokdeniz Karadeniz scored with eight minutes remaining.

Roman Eremenko made it 3-1 in the 88th minute.

Champion Zenit St Petersburg finished the campaign with a 2-0 victory away to big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, which ended the season fifth.

Alexander Bukharov put Zenit ahead in the 46th minute and substitute Szabolcs Huszti added a second after 84 minutes.

Fourth-placed Dinamo Moscow pinched a point away to Kuban Krasnodar, with Zvjezdan Misimovic netting in the 90th minute to cancel out a 10th-minute opener from Lacina Traore.

Elsewhere, Amkar Perm was a 4-1 winner over Volga Nizhny Novgorod, withstanding the 10th-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Sergei Narubin to win with goals from Sergei Volkov, Mitar Novakovic, a penalty from Georgi Peev, and Aleksandr Subbotin. Shota Bibilov had fired Volga ahead from the penalty spot after Narubin was red-carded.

Like Volga, Rostov heads into the relegation play-offs after a 2-1 defeat at second-bottom Tomsk.

Anton Khazov put Tomsk ahead, substitute Dmitri Kirichenko looked to have rescued a point for Rostov, but a late penalty from Alexei Rebko proved a winner.

Krylya Sovetov finished fifth-bottom after a 1-1 home draw with Terek Grozny. Terek took a second-minute lead through Blagoy Georgiev before Sergey Kornilenko put the host level in the 13th minute.

The league's bottom side Spartak Nalchik ended its relegation season with a 3-3 draw at home to Krasnodar.

Roman Kontsedalov scored twice and Rustam Balov also netted for Nalchik, with Krasnodar's goals coming from Marcio Abreu, Igor Lambarschi and a penalty from Yura Movsisyan.

The result leaves CSKA just one point ahead of third-placed Spartak Moscow in the race to finish runner-up behind champion Zenit St Petersburg and seal a place in next season's UEFA Champions League qualifying stages.

CSKA completes its campaign this weekend with a trip to Rubin Kazan, while Spartak is at Lokomotiv Moscow.

Also still in with a chance of second spot is Dinamo Moscow, who is two points behind CSKA ahead of its trip to Kuban Krasnodar, while fifth-placed Anzhi Makhachkala, who is three points behind CSKA, is at home to Zenit.

Anton Bober and Ivan Taranov scored in a five-minute spell spanning the half-time interval as the visitor moves two points ahead of Rostov, who as it stands with one game remaining will join Volga Nizhny Novgorod in the play-offs.

Relegated pair Tomsk and Spartak Nalchik shared a 1-1 draw, Gudja Rukhaia giving Spartak a 14th-minute lead before Evgeni Balyaikin equalised just before half-time.

It trailed for a long time to Alexander Kerzhakov's 23rd-minute goal but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov equalised in the 70th minute.

That was the prelude to a dramatic finale, as Sergei Semak restored Zenit's lead from the penalty spot but Emmanuel Emenike immediately equalised and Rafael Carioca grabbed a late winner.

The win leaves Spartak level on points with city rival CSKA, which plays Kuban Krasnodar on Wednesday (AEST).

Another Moscow team, Dinamo, is a point back having slipped to fourth with a 2-2 draw against Lokomotiv Moscow. They twice came from behind, Kevin Kuranyi and Zvjezdan Misimovic equalising after goals from Maksim Belyaev and Dennis Glushakov.

Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, which on 70 points is still just in touch if all its rivals for second place fail to win in their closing fixtures, beat Rubin Kazan 3-1 with goals from Mbark Boussoufa, Christopher Samba and Samuel Eto'o. Sergei Davydov had given Rubin a first-minute lead.

In the Relegation Group, Tomsk and Spartak Nalchik are already condemned to the drop ahead of their clash on Tuesday (AEST) and Volga Nizhny Novgorod know it will feature in the relegation play-off.

The latter went down 1-0 at Rostov, which boosted its hopes of avoiding that lottery as a goal from substitute Dmitri Kirichenko's took it a point ahead of Krylya Sovetov, which plays Krasnodar on Tuesday. Aleksandr Shulenin was earlier sent off for Volga.

Terek Grozny won 3-1 in a meaningless but entertaining encounter with Amkar Perm. Zaur Sadaev's seventh-minute opener was cancelled out by Marko Blazic, but Maciej Rybus restored the hosts' lead and Sadaev clinched victory in the 85th minute.

The host suffered an early setback when it had Manuel da Costa sent off after seven minutes and Seydou Doumbia opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty.

Zoran Tosic wrapped up the win with a late brace to take CSKA two points clear of city rival Dinamo in the race for second place behind champion Zenit St Petersburg with two games to go.

Dinamo Moscow drew 1-1 at Spartak Moscow, who is a point further back in fourth.

Kevin Kuranyi put Dinamo ahead in the third minute before Ari levelled two minutes after the break.

Anzhi Makhachkala missed the chance to strengthen its grip on fifth place as it threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Kuban Krasnodar.

Goals from Mbark Boussoufa and Samuel Eto'o had Anzhi two up after 22 minutes, but goals either side of half-time from David Tsoraev and Igor Armas earned the host a point.

Zenit St Petersburg twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Rubin Kazan.

Sergei Semak cancelled out Alexander Ryazantsev's opener before Andrei Arshavin made it 2-2 after Bibras Natkho had restored Rubin's lead.

At the other end of the table, Volga Nizhny Novgorod missed the chance to secure at least a third-bottom finish as it lost 3-1 at home to Terek Grozny.

Aleksandr Shulenin put the host in front after 11 minutes, but Terek fought back after the break with goals from Igor Lebedenko, Maciej Rybus and a Zaur Sadaev penalty.

Yura Movsisyan scored the opening goal and then a last-minute equalising own goal as Krasnodar drew 2-2 at Amkar Perm.

Joaozinho had put Krasnodar 2-1 in front after Vitali Grishin's leveller.

Rostov drew 2-2 at already-relegated Spartak Nalchik.

A Hector Bracamonte penalty and an Alexandru Gatcan strike put Rostov in front after Semen Fomin's early opener.

But Roman Kontsedalov netted from the spot in the 80th minute to earn Spartak a point.

The match ended 10 aside with Spartak's Aleksei Aravin and Rostov's Igor Smolnikov both sent off.

Arshavin joined Zenit St Petersburg on a five-month loan deal in February and has made a big impact at his hometown club, helping it to win its second consecutive Russian title at the weekend.

The 30-year-old forward is unsure whether he will return to the Gunners next season, and will instead delay discussions on his future.

"I haven't yet thought about (my future). Everything will be decided after the European Championship," Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

"Of course, the result and quality of play there could affect my destiny."

Arshavin enjoyed two relatively successful years at Arsenal but he fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium this term and was even booed while entering the pitch for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during January's 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United.

The Russian, who cost £15million when he signed for the club in February 2009, made only eight league starts for the Gunners this season and is sure that the temporary move to his homeland was worthwhile.

"Without a doubt it was the right decision," he added.

"There are many reasons why. First of all, I am now playing, and that is paramount for any player as training is no substitute for matches. Second, I have returned to my hometown. Third, Zenit have done everything to make me feel comfortable and my thoughts are now only focused on football."

Zenit did not make life easy for itself, losing Konstantin Zyryanov to a 55th-minute red card, but held on to go 15 points clear at the summit.

Roman Shirokov put Zenit ahead after half an hour, with Alexander Kerzakhov doubling the lead with a penalty six minutes later.

Alexandru Epureanu pulled one back for Dinamo just before half-time but it could not get another even after Zyryanov's exit.

CSKA Moscow moved into third place - and level on points with Dinamo on 69 - with a 2-1 win over Spartak Moscow.

Ari put the ball through his own net before Artem Dzjuba made it 1-1 going into half-time and Zoran Tosic won it for CSKA in the 57th minute.

Spartak's Dmitri Kombarov was then sent off with nine minutes left.

Anzhi Makhachkala leapfrogged Lokomotiv Moscow into fifth place - and the last European spot - with a 3-1 home win.

A Taras Burlak own goal put Anzhi ahead only for Dennis Glushakov to equalise in the 31st minute. Samuel Eto'o then scored in the 64th and 90th minutes to seal the points.

Anzhi now has a one-point lead over Lokomotiv.

Elsewhere Rubin Kazan drew 1-1 with Kuban Krasnodar.

Kuban took the lead through Marcos Pizzelli's 69th-minute effort but Bebras Natcho levelled with a penalty six minutes from time.

Krylya finished the match with 10 men following the 84th-minute dismissal of Khyzyr Appayev, but the home side was unable to take advantage in the final minutes.

The result leaves Spartak 10 points adrift of safety with just three matches remaining.

Tomsk kept alive its slim hopes of avoiding the drop with a goalless draw at home to Amkar Perm, although it is eight points from safety and will need to win its remaining matches to stand any chance of staying up.

Volga Nizhny Novgorod sits above the bottom two but is not safe yet after slipping to a 2-1 loss at Krasnodar.

Yura Movsisyan scored both goals for Krasnodar after four and 44 minutes, with Andrei Karyaka replying from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.

Rostov will avoid a bottom-two finish following a 1-1 draw against Terek Grozny.

Roman Adamov gave Rostov the lead after four minutes but Blagoy Georgiev equalised six minutes before half-time.

Samuel Eto'o struck in the first half and substitute Shamil Lakhiyalov made it 2-0 10 minutes after the intervals before Nicolas Pareja's own goal rounded off the scoring.

Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan drew 0-0 in the other top-half game.

In the relegation group, Sergey Kornilenko's brace earned Krylya Sovetov a 2-1 win over 10-man Rostov.

Kornilenko's opener was cancelled out by Roman Adamov but Rostov had Denis Kolodin sent off five minutes after half-time. It was finally made to pay in stoppage-time when Kornilenko tucked away a penalty.

Krasnodar won 1-0 at Terek Grozny, Nikolai Markov with the only goal in the 28th minute.

A 17th-minute goal from midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic settled the contest in Dinamo's favour and earned it its third win in four league games. Spartak can regain second place with a win or draw at home to Anzhi Makhachkala on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEST).

Elsewhere in the championship group, leader Zenit St Petersburg fought back to draw 2-2 away to Kuban Krasnodar.

A brace from Lacina Traore (60 and 73) appeared to put Kuban on course for an unlikely win but Zenit hit back as Andrey Arshavin (78) and Roman Shirokov (80) were on target.

Volga Nizhny Novgorod moved nine points clear of the relegation zone with its 2-0 win at home to Tomsk.

Both Volga goals came from the penalty spot, first through Andrei Karyaka (21) and then Shota Bibilov (90), as Tomsk finished the match with nine men after the late dismissals of Andrei Ivanov and Valeri Klimov.

Tomsk remains second bottom of the relegation group, two points above Spartak Nalchik which lost 1-0 away to Amkar Perm. Vitali Grishin netted the only goal of the game in the 34th minute.

Substitute Dmitri Kirichenko struck at the death to move Rostov a point closer to safety.

Another replacement, Yura Movsisyan, had put Krasnodar in front with a 74th-minute penalty.

Marek Suchy gave Spartak the lead after 74 minutes with Emmanuel Emenike sealing the points eight minutes later.

Victory propelled Valery Karpin's side above CSKA Moscow and behind only Zenit St Petersburg, albeit 12 points adrift.

Spartak's city rival Dinamo also leapfrogged CSKA into third with a 1-0 win at Anzhi Makhachkala.

Vladimir Rykov scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute.

In the relegation group, bottom side Spartak Nalchik moved to within two points of second-bottom Tomsk with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

Roman Kontsedalov opened the scoring eight minutes before half-time from the penalty spot with Magomed Mitrishev doubling the lead nine minutes into the second half.

Daniel Buitrago wrapped up the scoring with a little under quarter-of-an-hour remaining as the host claimed its seventh win of the season.

Vladimir Bystrov opened the scoring three minutes after the hour mark before substitute Andrey Arshavin added a late second.

The win stretched Zenit's lead over its closest rival to 14 points with five games remaining, with Spartak Moscow a further point back in third.

Lokomotiv Moscow remains fourth after its notional hopes of top spot were ended by a 1-1 draw away to Kuban Krasnodar.

Roman Pavlyuchenko put Lokomotiv ahead in the 61st minute but Marcos Pizzelli equalised 13 minutes later.

In the relegation group, Tomsk boosted its hopes of avoiding automatic relegation with an impressive 3-0 win over Terek Grozny.

Ruslan Nakhushev struck on the stroke of half-time and second-half goals from substitute Ilya Gultyaev and Denis Boyarintsev left Tomsk six points behind Volga Nizhny Novgorod in the second of the two relegation play-off spots, and 10 adrift of the safety line marked by 12th-placed Rostov.

Krylya Sovetov is just two points behind Rostov - which plays on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST) - after a 2-1 win over Amkar Perm, which finished with nine men.

Georgi Peev had given Amkar an interval lead but Sergey Kornilenko equalised with a penalty on the hour and struck again three minutes later.

Amkar promptly lost its discipline, Sergei Volkov sent off in the 64th minute and Mitar Novakovic following 10 minutes later.

Eto'o, who signed for Anzhi last year from Inter Milan in a reported $27.9-million deal, last hit the back of the net in November.

"For me the most important thing is that we play on good pitches. Then the goals will come," Eto'o was quoted as saying by the Sport Express daily after the weekend's goalless draw with CSKA Moscow.

"The Russian league is a good championship but as for the pitches... It's hard to play on such pitches," he said. "On good pitches we can keep up with anyone."

Russia is emerging from a long winter and the last weeks have seen pitches in provincial cities turned into quagmires by belting rain and wet snow.

The Russian Premier League, which has attracted a galaxy of talent to the big clubs over the last years, has repeatedly vowed that improving the quality of the pitches is a major priority.

"On a bad pitch it's hard to be a good artist," said Eto'o. "Everyone is only going to win if the pitches get better."

Anzhi is currently seventh in the Russian Premier League but its billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov has huge ambitions for the future under coach Guus Hiddink.

Officially based in the Caucasus region of Dagestan, Anzhi trains in Moscow for security reasons and only flies into Makhachkala for home games.

A banana was thrown at Samba, after a match at Lokomotiv Moscow last month, the third such incident against an Anzhi player in the past year.

"I feel extremely passionately about racism in football and will never let the small community of racists break me," Samba said in a statement to The Associated Press.

"I'm a strong character and will keep fighting for my team."

Samba left English Premier League club Blackburn in February to join Guus Hiddink's Anzhi for a reported $18.68 million.

"I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Russia and although I was of course angry at the racism incident, along with the rest of the football world, racist issues here are no different to what I have experienced in other countries," Samba said.

But the incident prompted World Cup organisers to pledge to step up action to curb racism in Russian football.

Racism has become entrenched in some of the country's fan clubs, which often include ultranationalists and neo-Nazis.

Samba's Anzhi teammate Roberto Carlos, a former Brazil and Real Madrid defender, had bananas thrown at him twice last year. In 2010, Lokomotiv Moscow fans unfurled a banner showing a banana in a display directed at Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie, who went on to join West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

Anzhi is owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a billionaire from Dagestan, the Caspian province in southern Russia where the club is based.

Emmanuel Emenike opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Ari doubled the lead on the hour mark.

The win moved Spartak up to third, a point behind city rival CSKA.

Second-bottom Tomsk failed to give its slim survival hopes a boost as it went down 3-1 at Krasnodar.

Pavel Golshev put the home side in front on the stroke of half-time, but Alexei Rebko levelled from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

Substitute Otar Martsvaladze then put Krasnodar back in front eight minutes later and Joaozinho added a third in the 82nd minute.

Roman Shirokov did the damage, scoring the only goal with 15 minutes remaining.

It is now 11 points clear of second-placed CSKA Moscow, which was held to a 0-0 draw by big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala.

Elsewhere, Amkar Perm shrugged off the dismissal of Zahari Sirakov to beat Rostov 1-0 thanks to an Alexandru Gatcan own goal.

The day's other game saw Dinamo Moscow draw 1-1 with Rubin Kazan.

Zvjezdan Misimovic put Dinamo ahead (10), only for Haedo Valdez to equalise midway through the second half.

Junior Mauricio put Terek in front in the 25th minute and Spartak's hopes of getting back into the game were hit when it had Adnan Zahirovic sent off in the 71st minute.

Piotr Polczak added a second for the hosts seven minutes from time to make the points safe.

The loss dropped Spartak 10 points adrift of safety with six games to go as third-bottom Krylya Sovetov drew 0-0 at fourth-bottom Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

Volga had Aleksandr Shulenin sent off in the 69th minute, but it held on to claim a point.

Aleksandr Kokorin put Dinamo ahead just before half-time and substitute Zvjezdan Misimovic sealed the victory with an 88th-minute penalty to leave defeated Lokomotiv still two points behind second-placed CSKA Moscow.

Rubin Kazan beat Anzhi Makhachkala 1-0 to leapfrog above its opponent into sixth spot, Nigeria international Obafemi Martins netting the only goal of the game in the 50th minute.

In the relegation group, Amkar Perm defeated Terek Grozny 2-0 at home with Nikola Mijailovic netting in the 54th minute before a Martin Jiranek own goal four minutes from time completed the scoring.

Champion Zenit took control early on at Spartak with a 10th-minute goal from Sergei Semak putting it ahead, and Alexander Kerzhakov's 63rd-minute penalty doubled the advantage.

Artem Dzjuba reduced the deficit five minutes from time, but the host could not force an equaliser.

CSKA Moscow lost ground as substitute Anton Sekret earned Kuban Krasnodar a point with an 88th-minute equaliser after Seydou Doumbia had put the capital club ahead in the 71st minute.

Krasnodar remained well clear at the top of the relegation group despite managing only a 1-1 draw at Krylya Sovetov.

Oleg Samsonov's opener eight minutes before half-time looked to have set the visitor on course for victory but the second half did not go to plan, Sergey Kornilenko levelling for the host in the 69th minute before Dusan Andjelkovic's late red card.

The result saw Krasnodar move seven points clear of 10th-placed Rostov, which went down 2-0 at Volga Nizhny Novgorod thanks to first-half goals from Shota Bibilov and Andrei Karyaka (penalty).

Junior Mauricio had given Terek the lead with a penalty after 22 minutes but the visitor drew level with a strike from Shota Bibilov after 53 minutes.

It went on to claim all three points with further goals from Andrei Karyaka (57) and substitute Ruslan Adzhindzhal (90).

Szabolcs Huszti's 36th-minute opener was cancelled out by Haedo Valdez (58) to leave Zenit with just one win in its past six league games.

Despite that Luciano Spalletti's side is still seven points clear of closest rival CSKA Moscow.

Spartak Moscow moved up to fourth after it won its Moscow derby at Dinamo 3-1.

With time ticking down the match was locked after Alexander Samedov (45) levelled the opener from Emmanuel Emenike (30). But a Cristian Noboa own goal on 70 minutes gave Spartak the lead before Ferreira Ari sealed the win in injury-time.

Anzhi Makhachkala snuck into the final UEFA Europa League place as second-half goals from Odil Ahmedov (60) and Mbark Boussoufa (80) set up a 2-0 win over Kuban Krasnodar.

Spartak Nalchik remained in the relegation zone as it lost 2-1 at Rostov.

Hector Bracamonte (11) and Kornel Salata (31) gave Rostov a 2-0 lead and while Adnan Zahirovic (62) pulled a goal back David Siradze's 80th-minute dismissal ended its hopes of a point.

Forwards Roman Pavlyuchenko and Felipe Caicedo scored to keep Lokomotiv in third place just one point behind CSKA. Zenit, which takes on Rubin Kazan on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEDT), tops the table on 70 points.

"We expected a tough opposition in this match and were ready for it," Lokomotiv coach Jose Couceiro said.

"We wanted to start aggressively and score early and luckily we managed to do everything our way. In the second half we looked less impressive as we haven't yet recovered completely after the Russian cup match in midweek."

Lokomotiv got off to a lively start, clinching the lead in the 10th minute through recent signing Pavlyuchenko, who picked the ball in the centre of the pitch and ran with it to the edge of the CSKA box before firing home.

The Red Army side replied positively and began to test Lokomotiv, keeping goalkeeper Guilherme busy.

But it was Lokomotiv's Equadorian striker Caicedo who increased his team's lead on the counter-attack, scoring in the 33rd minute from the edge of the six-yard box after Pavlyuchenko's short cross.

After the interval, CSKA put more pressure on its opponent but Lokomotiv sat comfortably on the advantage and had little trouble keeping its lead.

"We tried to play aggressively in attack from the start but experienced too many problems in the midfield," CSKA head coach Leonid Slutsky admitted afterwards.

"We conceded an early goal, which forced us to make changes in our tactics. Unfortunately we failed to find the right way to save the day."

Anzhi released a statement condemning the incident, labelling it 'idiotic'.

The statement read: "We are deeply disappointed with the idiotic episode that happened to our player Christopher Samba after the match Lokomotiv - Anzhi.

"We are assured that the representatives of the football authorities, (the) security service of Lokomotiv will settle this issue and the guilty will be identified and punished."

Former Congo international Samba, who was born in France, added: "I'm very upset that such misconduct took place in view of children who were sitting on those very stands.

"It can serve as a bad example for them.

"I try not to think about racism. I just want to believe that such problems do not exist on a global basis. Maybe I am mistaken but I do want to believe in it.

"As a rule any scandal of this kind is a result of a misconduct committed by one silly person. I don't want to react to this."

It is not the first time Anzhi has been involved in an incident of this kind.

Last June a fan threw a banana at Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos during a game with Krylya Sovetov.

He subsequently confessed but was not charged after insisting it was not a racist gesture.

Doumbia's winner sent CSKA four points clear of third-placed Lokomotiv in the Russian Premier League table, and reduced the gap to leader Zenit St Petersburg to six points.

Zoran Tosic had opened the scoring for CSKA in the 37th minute before Spartak equalised through Artem Dzjuba in the 51st minute. The win was CSKA's first in the league in six games.

Dennis Glushakov hit the only goal after 73 minutes as Lokomotiv moved to within a point of second-placed CSKA Moscow and 10 of leader Zenit St Petersburg.

Rubin Kazan missed the chance to join Lokomotiv on 60 points as it slipped to a 1-0 loss at Kuban Krasnodar, which secured victory thanks to Marcos Pizzelli's 43rd-minute effort.

Roman Vorobyev scored the only goal after 48 minutes as Krylya Sovetov defeated Spartak Nalchik 1-0 while the match between Amkar Perm and Tomsk ended goalless.

Shota Bibilov (51) gave Volga hope of a much-needed win when he cancelled out Yura Movsisyan's 49th-minute penalty. Alexander Martynovich grabbed the winner on 68 minutes though to leave Volga six points from safety.

Terek Rostov moved a step closer to confirming its top-flight status with a 1-0 win over Rostov. Shamil Asildarov scored the game's only goal after 48 minutes.

Two goals in as many minutes put the leader in control as early as the 14th minute as Domenico Criscito and Alexander Kerzhakov struck.

Sergei Semak then made it three 10 minutes later to all but seal the points with less than a third of the match gone.

Veteran German striker Kevin Kuranyi responded for Dinamo in the 72nd minute, but that only served to wake Zenit up again as Kerzhakov's second and a late Szabolcs Huszti goal completed the rout.

The win puts Zenit nine points clear of CSKA Moscow, having played a game more. Dinamo is 11 points back.

Goals by Vitali Grishin (22) and Nikita Burmistrov (69) secured the points for Perm, while Nalchik got one back through Jovan Golic in the 82nd minute.

The win lifts Perm 10 points clear of the relegation zone, while Nalchik is now just three points ahead of Tomsk after the league's bottom side defeated Volga Nizhny Novgorod 1-0 thanks to Denis Boyarintsev's 41st-minute effort.

The day's other match between Anzhi Makhachkala and Spartak Moscow ended goalless.

The host found itself trailing to an Aleksei Ionov penalty five minutes before the interval, but rescued a point with Danko Lazovic's goal after 74 minutes.

Lokomotiv Moscow remains 10 points off top spot in the champions group after failing to find the net in a goalless draw with Rubin Kazan.

In the relegation group, Rostov was a 1-0 winner over Krylya Sovetov thanks to Timofey Kalachev's 22nd-minute strike.

Rostov finished the match with 10 men after the dismissal of Alexandru Gatcan, but Krylya was unable to find an equaliser and remains four points above the bottom two.

The 38-year Roberto Carlos - one of a number of stars signed by the Dagestan outfit in the past few years - says he will continue to work in the club's organisation and is set to play more matches for Anzhi next season.

"I'm not playing football any more this season, I will continue working in the club's structure," a statement from Roberto Carlos on Sunday read.

However the 1994 World Cup winner, who played his last match for Anzhi in September, said he did not intend to hang up his boots.

"I'm currently working as a coach and I was excluded from the club's players' list to release a vacancy for another player," Roberto Carlos said.

"But I'm not going anywhere. I'm out just until the end of this season. I'm set to play several more matches for Anzhi next season."

Roberto Carlos added he was still under contract with Anzhi until 2014.

Goals from Shamil Asildarov (seven), Maciej Rybus (10) and Igor Lebedenko (21) put the visitor in total control.

Terek had goalkeeper Soslan Dzanaev sent off in the 70th minute and Igor Picusciac pulled one back for the host three minutes from time, but it was too little too late.

A meeting between the second- and third-placed teams in the Premier League ended in stalemate, meaning the real winners were leaders Zenit St Petersburg, whose lead over CSKA now sits at five points with a game in hand.

CSKA took a third-minute lead when the league's top scorer Seydou Doumbia grabbed his 26th goal of the season, converting Keisuke Honda's pass with a neat finish past Dinamo goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky.

But Igor Semshov grabbed the equaliser with 15 minutes to go, heading powerfully home from new-signing Balazs Dzsudzsak's cross.

The draw means Dinamo remain two points behind CSKA and seven adrift of Zenit.

Samba, an £11 million ($16.36 million) signing from Blackburn Rovers last month, lined up in defence for Hiddink's men and his new side claimed the three points with a 69th-minute winner from Brazilian Jucilei.

Spartak Moscow needed an 80th-minute strike from Nigerian Emmanuel Emenike to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Rubin Kazan, which led through a 58th-minute Roman Sharonov goal.

Promoted Krasnodar claimed a dramatic 1-0 win at home to Rostov through Pavel Golyshev's injury-time strike. The host had had an early effort from Yura Movsisyan ruled out.

Zenit, which came into the match with a six-point lead over second-placed CSKA, twice took the lead through strikes from Nicolas Lombaerts in the 1st and 56th minutes, but host CSKA hit back both times through Alan Dzagoev (17) and Ahmed Musa (68) to salvage a point.

Also in the champions group, Lokomotiv Moscow climbed into the top four with a 2-0 home win over Kuban Krasnodar, first-half goals from Maicon and Felipe Caicedo sealing the victory.

In the relegation group, bottom two Tomsk and Spartak Nalchik both suffered 1-0 away defeats.

Tomsk went down to a solitary Shamil Asildarov goal in the 62nd minute at Terek Grozny, while Spartak Nalchik was beaten by a 61st-minute effort from Sergei Bendz at Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

"I believe that it's been the best possible decision for me - to return to my native town, to help my native club and myself," the Russia skipper said.

"Zenit made me the right offer at the right time as I was having certain problems at Arsenal with too little match practice."

The 30-year-old forward also dismissed rumours that he could join another Russian Premiership side, the big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, saying Zenit's proposal was the only serious one he had received.

"It was unlikely for me to join any other club as Zenit were the only side, who made Arsenal and me a serious proposal," he said.

"I hope here in Zenit I will receive everything I need to prepare for the 2012 European championships in the best possible way."

Zenit last week took Arshavin, who cost the Gunners £15 million ($22.07 million) when he arrived in London two-and-a-half seasons ago, on loan until the end of the season.

He also scored the winning goal against Barcelona in last year's 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory at the Emirates Stadium.

The 30-year-old started his career at Zenit before moving to north London in early 2009 and it had claimed earlier this week it had been in talks with the player.

Arshavin has been a bit-part player in north London this season, making most of his 27 appearances as a substitute and has fallen out of favour with Arsenal's fans.

The move may have come as a surprise to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger who had maintained earlier in the day he did not expect Arshavin to rejoin his former club before the Russia transfer window closed, while revealing he "will not stand in his way" should an 11th-hour agreement be reached.

However, the Russian club said on its website: "Arshavin is back!"

The 27-year-old made a transfer request in January but remained at Ewood Park after the northern winter window closed when a possible move to QPR or Tottenham failed to materialise.

However, the transfer window in Russia does not close until later on Friday (local time) and it is understood Anzhi, who recently appointed Guus Hiddink as its coach, is in negotiations to add Samba to its growing list of stars.

Assistant manager Eric Black suggested a deal was close to being completed although he would not confirm the identity of the club involved.

"I think negotiations are ongoing at the moment," he said. "I don't really know the details and I'm not really in a position to comment further on that, but negotiations are ongoing."

Asked whether those negotiations were with Anzhi, Black added: "I'm not really aware to be honest.

"I've only heard bits and pieces, but I know the manager is speaking as we speak and hopefully there will be an outcome soon."

Anzhi has made a number of notable signings of late, funded by billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov.

Their squad already boasts Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, Russia international Yuri Zhirkov and former Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, while it has also been linked with a number of other high-profile players.

Should Samba, who has not played since the start of January, join its number, Black backed the rest of the Rovers squad to cope.

"He hasn't played for a few weeks and our performances have been exceptional," said Black.

"Obviously there was a blip at Arsenal, but again, you look at the performances against Newcastle, Fulham and QPR and the guys that have been in there have done exceptionally well."

Aulas said in a telephone interview the Russian Premier League side's president had flown in a private jet to the French city and offered five million euros ($A6.25 million) for Kallstrom.

But with Lyon still involved in four competitions, having eliminated the Russian side in the Champions League play-offs, Aulas said the Swede was not for sale - at least not for now.

"We're not interested in this proposed move as long as we're still involved in four competitions," said Aulas. "We're not selling. We've promised to reopen talks in June."

Lyon is 12 points behind Paris Saint Germain in the French league title race and will play the capital side in the quarter-finals of the French Cup. It also faces Marseille in the League Cup final.

Lyon is also fighting to join the last 16 of the Champions League.

Aulas said he flat refused Rubin's offer, despite being told Kallstrom, one of the club's best-paid players, "could earn double or triple his net salary" in Russia.

"To start off with, Rubin Kazan's offer was five million euros (A$6.2 million). We told them this is not the market price (for Kallstrom)," said Aulas.

Lyon paid Rennes 8.5 million euros (A$10.6 million) for Kallstrom, 29, in June 2006. Earlier this season the Swede signed a contract extension that takes him up to the end of the 2014 season.

Arshavin, whose contract expires in June 2013, has been the subject of widespread speculation of his imminent return to Russia after spending much of the season on Arsene Wenger's bench.

He has also been targeted by Russia's big spender Anzhi Makhachkala, which signed Dutch coaching legend Guus Hiddink last week.

Zenit's General Director Maxim Mitrofanov told the Sovietsky Sport daily Arshavin was still interested in staying in England but had also realised he needed to get match fit before joining Russia's Euro 2012 squad.

"Arshavin would interest Zenit in loan terms," Mitrofanov told the online edition of the daily.

"We have talked to (Arsenal). We will have to see what they do next."

Russia's transfer window expires on Friday.

Sovietsky Sport had earlier reported that Zenit wanted to eventually make the 30-year-old Russian squad skipper a coach of the club's youth squad.

Arshavin's stock soared when he spearheaded one of the most dazzling Russian sides in decades to a semi-final appearance to in the Euro 2008 championship.

Arsenal signed him early the following year after paying a 16.5-million-euro transfer and saw him make an immediate impact with six goals in 12 games.

But he only scored once in the Premier League in 13 appearances this season and has only started for the squad on six occasions.

Arshavin has been a bit-part player at Arsenal this year after the arrival of Gervinho and the rise of new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Russian has made most of his 27 appearances this term as a substitute and has fallen out of favour with Arsenal's fans, who booed when he came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain during the club's home defeat to Manchester United.

Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov told Russian newspaper Sovietsky Sport that he is hopeful of persuading the 30-year-old to return to the club where he spent 11 years before moving to London.

Mitrofanov said: "We talked with them. Let's see how they themselves continue to lead.

"Andrey still wants to play in England. (But) For Andrey it is very important to play in the Euros and being at a home club would be a good option in the current situation.

"Therefore, we are discussing the possibility to loan (Arshavin)."

Any deal would have to be concluded by Thursday night when the Russian transfer window closes.

The 65-year-old will be joining a side that has spent only five years in the Russian Premier League and has failed to find spark despite signing the star tandem of Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and Brazilian veteran Roberto Carlos.

The club heralds from one of the most dangerous regions of Russia and finds itself trailing in seventh, 13 points behind leader Zenit Saint Petersburg and with just eight matches remaining.

But Anzhi's billionaire owner, Suleyman Kerimov, feels Hiddink still has the touch he enjoyed when leading Korea Republic to the semi-final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and then falling a game short of the EURO 2008 final with Russia.

Anzhi said Hiddink will be bringing his trusted assistants, Ton Du Chatinier and Zeljko Petrovic, along for an 18-month stint that will reportedly see the Dutchman draw a post-tax annual salary of 10 million euros ($12.25 million).

"The fact that Chinese and some other representatives offered me much more money makes no difference," Hiddink said in an interview published on the team's website.

"In my opinion, football should not only provide fans with pleasure but also create opportunities for people," he said. "Football is more than a game in which you need to finish first."

The club released photos of a stern-looking Hiddink leading his team to the pitch for four weekend training sessions in Turkey ahead of a 5 March visit to third-place Dinamo Moscow.

His appointment takes Hiddink out of the running to replace Chelsea's embattled boss Andre Villas-Boas and frees up one-time Anzhi target, sacked England coach Fabio Capello, for other assignments.

But the Moscow press and some top observers were surprisingly downbeat about Hiddink's chances after watching his fellow Dutchman, Ruud Gullit, fail spectacularly with neighbouring Terek Grozny last year.

"I am far from certain that everything will work out," the Sovetsky Sport daily quoted former Russian Football Union boss Vyacheslav Koloskov as saying in its weekend edition.

"It has been a long time since he worked with a club," he said in reference to Hiddink's brief stint as Chelsea caretaker in 2009.

"They have created a Messiah out of Hiddink and even started naming kids Guus. But all he is is a good trainer."

Hiddink himself has preferred to talk about the positive benefits sport can bring an underdeveloped Muslim region of Russia than what he can do with Anzhi.

Kerimov was born just 130km from Anzhi's home ground and has made local football development into a social project whose broader importance has also been played up by the Kremlin.

Hiddink told Russian reporters he was 'realistic' about Anzhi's chances this season and excited about the sport's future in the restive Caucasus.

But the coach's star performer in Russia's 2008 squad said he thought Hiddink could make Anzhi into an 'enormous club'.

"When Guus Hiddink gets to work, the entire team starts playing a different game," striker Roman Pavlyuchenko told the RIA Novosti news agency.

"Today Guus Hiddink signed the contract. As well as the post of chief coach, Hiddink will also occupy the post as vice president of the club in charge of development," Anzhi revealed in a statement on Friday.

Hiddink said Suleyman Kerimov, Anzhi's owner, had made clear to him that he was being invited to take part in an "extensive project" to develop football throughout its home region of Dagestan in the Northern Caucasus.

Financial details were not disclosed although press reports said Hiddink's net annual salary may reach 10 million euros ($12.26 million).

Hiddink, who won huge respect in Russia for taking the national side to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, said he had already been in discussions with Anzhi at the end of last year.

"I am happy that I got such an opportunity," Hiddink was quoted as saying by Anzhi's website.

"It is especially important for me that the club is building serious plans to develop football in the republic (of Dagestan) and this is no less important than what the first team achieves.

"I know the ambition of the shareholder, the club, the fans and the whole world knows about this now. And I will do everything to make sure that the team's game corresponds to these ambitions," Hiddink said.

Krasnozhan only joined Anzhi at the end of December after being sacked by Lokomotiv Moscow in June. He had been brought in as the replacement for Andrei Gordeyev, who had taken caretaker charge after the sacking of Gadzhi Gadzhiyev in September.

A statement on club website fc-anji.ru read: "FC Anzhi has accepted the resignation of head coach Yuri Krasnozhan.

"Today, the club held a working meeting at which it was decided to grant the request of the head coach.

"The parties decided not to dwell on the motives and reasons for separation."

With the Russian Premier League currently on a winter break running from November until 2 March, Krasnozhan leaves without having taken charge of a competitive match.

Anzhi is bankrolled by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, whose wealth has already been splashed on the likes of Yuri Zhirkov, Samuel Eto'o and Roberto Carlos, and reports suggest Capello could now be in his sights after he quit as England boss last week.

The 65-year-old Italian has long been linked with the post at Anzhi, which currently sits seventh in the Russian Premier League.

Capello has also been strongly linked with Inter Milan, but hinted last week that his next role would likely be based outside Italy.

The 65-year-old Italian coach, considered by Anzhi chiefs as a possible candidate for the club's head coach post even when he was coaching the English national squad, came to Moscow just days after his resignation.

Another daily, Soviet Sport, has reported that Capello was expected to join Anzhi in Turkey next week, where the club will spend two weeks training in the Mediterranean resort of Baled ahead of the restart of the domestic season after the winter break.

On Saturday local media reported the sacking of Anzhi coach Yury Krasnozhan, who took over the club in December, but the club refused to confirm the information.

Anzhi said Krasnozhan's future would be decided on Monday, adding however the club had sacked general director Soslan Soziev.

Meanwhile, Soviet Sport reported Krasnozhan would be shifted within the club, Anzhi offering him the post of deputy president.

"There will be changes in the club staff," Anzhi's current deputy president, German Chistyakov, said. "We have serious reasons for those changes."

Anzhi, founded in 1991, had enjoyed little success in Russian football until being acquired by the tycoon Suleyman Kerimov last year and going on a spending spree that landed it Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Brazilian Roberto Carlos.

Anzhi is seventh in the Russian Premiership with 52 points from 32 matches, 13 points behind the leader, Zenit St Petersburg.

Anzhi players live and train in Moscow for security reasons and travel 2,000km to Makhachkala in Dagestan - one of Russia's most impoverished and violent regions - for home games of the Russian Premier League.

An Anzhi spokesman said that the club had sacked general director Soslan Soziev but that Krasnozhan remained in charge of the team.

"There will be changes in the club headquarters," Anzhi deputy president German Chistyakov said.

"We have serious reasons for those changes."

Earlier local media reported that Anzhi, which is currently preparing for the domestic league restart in a training camp in Spain, had decided to part ways with the 48-year-old Krasnozhan, who took over the club in December.

Anzhi, founded in 1991, had enjoyed little success in Russian football until being acquired by tycoon Suleyman Kerimov this year and going on a spending spree that landed it Samuel Eto'o and Roberto Carlos.

Krasic has been strongly linked with a move to Zenit St Petersburg, with the Russian transfer window closing on 24 February 24.

"I can only say that as it stands right now, Milos is not thinking about moving to Russia," Krasic's agent Vlado Borozan told www.tuttomercatoweb.com

"He was in Russia for seven years (at CSKA Moscow) and even though Zenit is a great club, he wants to remain on this side of Europe.

"The transfer window (in Russia) closes at the end of the month and I cannot exclude that he might change his mind although I think it would be very difficult.

"He knows that at Juve he will not find space but he is aware of his choices."

Krasic, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, joined Juventus from CSKA Moscow in the northern summer of 2010 and scored seven goals in 33 league appearances last season.

However, since the arrival of coach Antonio Conte to Juventus this northern summer, the 27-year-old has had limited playing time, making just seven appearances for the Turin giant so far.

Danny suffered the injury when he collided with a team-mate during a training camp of his Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in Florence, Italy, and will be sidelined for at least six months.

"It's the exact same situation that I had three years ago. Of course it's really sad, but that's life, and that's football," Danny told the Zenit website in an interview published on Tuesday.

Danny said he was returning to Portugal and would most likely require surgery on the injury.

Portuguese football federation senior official Joao Vieira Pinto, in an interview with Antena 1 radio, named Danny's fate 'a huge loss'.

"We are very sad, Danny would have been an important man at Euro," he said.

Venezuela-born Danny has won 23 Portugal caps and scored four goals. Portugal is in tough Group B with Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands at EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

CSKA nabbed the 22-year-old for free as his present club, which plays in the Korean second division, has only semi-professional status. Reports also said that Kim's contract offers an option of extending for two more years.

Kim has already joined CSKA at its training camp in Marbella, Spain, alongside previous signings Pontus Wernbloom of Sweden and Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa.

CSKA will take on Spanish giant Real Madrid in a two-leg showdown in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in February and March.

The Russian forward had appeared on the verge of leaving Spurs for well over a year and finally made the switch on transfer deadline day.

"We have reached agreement for the transfer of Roman Pavlyuchenko to Lokomotiv Moscow," a club statement read.

"The striker joined us from Spartak Moscow in August 2008 and went on to score 42 goals in 113 appearances. We thank Roman for his contribution and wish him every success for the future."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp earlier managed to bring in striker Louis Saha from Everton.

It is understood that Lokomotiv paid £8 million ($11.88 million) for Pavlyuchenko's services.

Carvalho, now with Brazilian club Palmeiras, told a local radio station he was given anabolic steroids to improve his physical condition because he was 'too skinny' when he arrived at CSKA Moscow in 2003.

Hours later, after his interview made headlines across the world, Carvalho released a statement through Palmeiras saying he didn't know if the substance in the injections he received was actually steroids.

"I don't know if it was an anabolic steroid, I don't have the medical knowledge to know that," the statement read.

"If it was, it's something that happened 10 years ago and it's in the past. If it wasn't, I apologise to the Russians for the badly used words."

The 28-year-old Brazilian's statement also read that he was never forced to take anything against his will during his time with CSKA Moscow.

"I took the same food supplements that all other athletes took regularly," he said. "Nobody was forced to take anything."

Brazilian media reported the Russian club denied the accusations and called on Carvalho to explain why he made his comments.

An email sent to CSKA Moscow by The Associated Press seeking comment was not immediately answered and calls to the team's press office were not returned late on Monday.

Carvalho said in the interview with Radio Estadao/ESPN that it was 'normal' for players to use steroids because there were no doping tests in Russia at the time.

At one point he mentioned Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato as examples of players who considerably improved their physical structure and became stronger after moving to European football, just as happened to him.

But he did not accuse the players or their clubs of making use of anabolic steroids, and said that he could only talk about what happened in Russia, where he played.

He said the doctors at CSKA Moscow used 'huge syringes' to make the injections that made him gain eight kilograms after only six months.

Carvalho said that at the time he didn't know what was being given to him, and that he stopped taking it when others said that the injections could damage his health.

"I stopped taking the injections when I found out that the substance went straight to the heart," his statement continued.

Carvalho mentioned the steroids after being asked to comment on criticism he has received from Palmeiras fans for being overweight. He blamed the steroids for changing his physical structure and not allowing him to maintain his form more easily.

Carvalho moved to Russia after starring for Brazilian club Internacional as a teenager. He played a few matches with Brazil's national team in 2006, and after leaving CSKA Moscow he played in Qatar and for Brazil's Atletico Mineiro.

He joined Palmeiras a few weeks ago and played as a starter for the first time in the team's 1-1 draw with Catanduvense last weekend in the Sao Paulo state championship.

The Toffees accepted a bid for the 26-year-old Russia winger on Wednesday and he had travelled to his homeland to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

He made 77 appearances for Everton, scoring nine goals, but failed to make himself a regular starter for David Moyes' side.

Moyes admitted the signing of Bilyaletdinov, who had made only seven starts this season, had not quite worked out as he had hoped.

"He was a great boy to work with, a really good professional," he told the club's website. "When he played he was totally committed and he did everything he could to succeed. We wish him well. It just didn't quite work and obviously we've decided to sell.

"It happens. You could probably ask every manager in the Premier League about players and I can think of some clubs you could ask about a lot of players but, yes, Bily's been in here and not quite reached what we wanted.

"But I couldn't fault anything that he did - he is a good lad."

The 27-year-old Brazil international, who spent six months on loan at Flamengo in 2010, has signed a contract that ties him to the Rio de Janeiro outfit until December 2014.

Rio-born Love told www.flamengo.com.br: "I'm very very happy indeed to return to the club of my heart. It will be great to wear the shirt without having to leave six months later. I'll stay for a long time and I want to win, win and win. I want to win every possible title with the club."

Love started his career with Palmeiras in 2002 before moving to CSKA two years later.

The prolific forward scored 117 goals in 244 games for the Russian club and helped it win numerous domestic titles as well as the 2005 UEFA Cup.

He added on CSKA's official website, www.pfc-cska.com: "I'm taking with me from Russia some great memories.

"During my seven years I have always felt the love and support of both the club and the fans. CSKA will always be an important part of my life."

The Russian club earlier claimed it had agreed a deal with the Toffees but that was dismissed as slightly premature by the Merseyside outfit.

However, Everton has confirmed talks are currently taking place and it hopes to seal the £5 million ($7.45 million) sale of the Russia international before the weekend.

"Discussions over the possible sale of Diniyar are ongoing with Spartak Moscow and we would hope to conclude these in the next 48 hours," a club spokesman told evertonfc.com

Bilyaletdinov's move will be subject to a medical and him agreeing personal terms.

The 26-year-old joined Everton from Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2009 for £9 million ($13.4 million) and has made 77 appearances, scoring nine goals.

However, after scoring what was adjudged to be Everton's goal of the season in his maiden campaign, he began to struggle in subsequent years.

In the northern summer he began to publicly air his frustrations and unhappiness and suggested if the situation did not improve he would have to move to find regular first-team football.

Bilyaletdinov has started just seven league matches this season and the club has decided he can now leave.

The 26-year-old Russia international will now undergo a medical ahead of a potential move back to his homeland.

Bilyaletdinov has failed to make a big impression since his move to Goodison Park from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2009.

A statement on the club's website, www.spartak.com, read: "Spartak have reached an agreement in principle with the English [club] Everton and 26-year-old midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov for a transfer to our club.

"The contract will be signed after the medical examination."

Bilyaletdinov took time to settle on Merseyside but showed potential during his first season at the English Premier League club, scoring seven goals.

He failed to build on that promise and has been unable to command a regular place in David Moyes' side.

He has started just seven league matches this season and was an unused substitute in Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) 1-1 draw with struggling Blackburn.

Bilyaletdinov's departure would be Moyes' third major piece of business of the January transfer window after the signings of forward Landon Donovan, on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, and midfielder Darron Gibson from Manchester United.

"I've never thought about leaving Anzhi since I came here. Not a single second," the four-time African player of the year was quoted as saying by the club on Friday.

"Moreover, I'm intended (sic) to play with Anzhi until the end of my career."

Despite only arriving at the ambitious outfit in August last year, Eto'o has been repeatedly linked with a loan or transfer move away from Anzhi - which is based in Dagestan, one of Russia's most impoverished and violent regions.

"I'm happy to play in Anzhi and I'm set to win something serious with my club. Maybe in the Champions League if we'll have enough luck," Eto'o said.

"I hope I'll be able to play five or six more years here before hanging up my boots."

The 30-year-old Eto'o, who joined Anzhi on a multi-million euro move, added that he had not yet been subject to any racist abuse in Russia.

"The problem of racism keeps many people on the alert but I have nothing to complain about," said Eto'o, who won UEFA Champions League medals with Barcelona and Inter Milan.

"I know that Roberto Carlos had certain problems before my arrival in Makhachkala but this problem did not affect me at all."

Despite the arrival of Brazilian veteran Carlos, Russian star Yuri Zhirkov and Eto'o, Anzhi enjoyed only moderate success in the first phase of this season, finishing seventh in the table well behind Saint Petersburg and the prominent Moscow teams.

Anzhi players live and train in Moscow for security reasons and only visit the Caspian Sea city Makhachkala for home matches.

The clubs' misconduct forced the panel to meet in special sessions after every one of the season's 32 matchdays to impose fines in 188 matches from 256 played overall.

None of the league's clubs managed to avoid penalty.

Nine-time champion Spartak Moscow led the penalty list with a total sum of 6.28 million roubles (over $A192,294), one million roubles ahead of the second-placed Zenit St Petersburg.

Tomsk paid the lowest fines with sum of 180,000 roubles.

The total of the season's fines amounted to more than 33 million roubles ($A1.011 million).

Reports said that fines for fan misbehaviour (over 26 million roubles) comprised the biggest share of the overall amount.

The Russian Football Union (RFU) chief Sergei Fursenko said all of the fines would be invested in the development of the children's football.

Reports say that the Premier League clubs are now paying so much in fines that it is funding more than half of the cost of children's football in the country.

The proposal from Federal Audit Chamber chairman Sergei Stepashin has received strong support from Russia's government.

The new amendments to the state law about physical culture could be introduced before the end of 2012.

Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the lower house of the country's parliament, the State Duma, has already created a group to prepare the new amendments.

"We hope the amendments will be ready for the Duma's consideration in the first half of this year," Mutko said.

"After that we are set to pass a new law about football before setting up the question about criminal liability for match-fixing.

"We will also take into consideration the international practice in this sphere."

Mutko said he believed the new law will be in place before the end of 2012.

Anzor Kavazashvili, the head of the Russian Football Union (RFU) experts' committee, which was established to tackle match-fixing in Russian football, said he was happy with the proposal.

"It's a very timely initiative," Kavazashvili said.

"The new law will become a serious weapon against match-fixing as the existing laws give us few chances to start a legal action against cheaters in our football.

"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has declared a war to the corruption in the country, while match-fixing is the main factor of corruption in football."

There's never been a proven instance of match-fixing in Russia, however, a set of unusual scorelines in the country's football championship has on occasion raised the suspicions of observers, officials and football experts.

Meanwhile, the world football governing body FIFA has recently issued a series of new measures to combat match-fixing, including an appeal for assistance to Interpol and the establishment of protection programs for informants.

The Russian outfit judge the 6 million euros ($A7.5 million) offered for the Brazilian over five years as "simply insufficient".

"We made it clear that we are ready to part company with Vagner Love for 10 million euros," the spokesman said.

"This sum is clearly inferior to the player's value but the club management are ready to satisfy the player's request in light of all he has done for CSKA."

Love joined CSKA in 2004, winning the UEFA Cup in 2005, and scoring 110 goals in 223 matches. The Brazilian was loaned to Flamengo in 2010.

The French side has already contacted CSKA after preparing the transfer money for 25-year-old Honda, who helped Japan to the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup and to the Asian Cup title last year, the Sports Nippon said, quoting PSG sources.

PSG attempted to acquire Honda in the middle of 2011 but a transfer did not materialise as the Russian side set a higher-than-expected transfer fee.

Previous reports said Honda's contract with the Moscow team will expire on December 31, 2013.

PSG, owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), has used its huge wealth to lure big names and was linked with former England captain and global mega-star David Beckham, who has turned them down for family reasons.

Sources close to QSI have told AFP in Paris that they have sanctioned bids totalling 61.5 million euros (A$76.7 million) for AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato and Real Madrid playmaker Kaka.

Several major English clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa were reported to have shown an interest in Honda during the Asian Cup in January last year when he was named the event's most valuable player.

In June, Juventus reportedly held talks with CSKA Moscow over the midfielder.

After four years at J-League powerhouse Nagoya Grampus and two years at Dutch club VVV Venlo, Honda joined CSKA in January 2010 and became the first Japanese player to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"We are very optimistic regarding this negotiation," Flamengo vice-chairman Michel Levy told sports daily Lance.

The newspaper added that the offer had been made on 29 December but as yet the Russian side had not responded.

"Vagner has always been in our plans, we are doing our utmost to get him. We have had important meetings ... and are awaiting a response, optimistic there will be an agreement," Levy said.

The 27-year-old Love, full name Vagner Silva de Souza, joined CSKA in 2004 and won the UEFA Cup in 2005.

He has scored 110 goals in 223 games for the Russian side but he wishes to return to his homeland.

In 2009, he had a spell on loan with his first professional side Palmeiras but failed to shine.

Love then went to Flamengo, which is also trying to lure former loan man Thiago Neves, who is currently with Saudi side Al Hilal and in whom the Brazilian side has a 20 percent stake.

The 23-year-old CSKA Moscow marksman collected a record haul of 591 points in an annual poll of the country's football journalists conducted by Football Weekly.

Doumbia has scored 24 goals in 32 matches of the Russian Premier League, which is currently on a northern winter break.

He also netted five goals in the group stage of this year's UEFA Champions League to help the Red Army side into the play-offs.

In February CSKA will clash with Spanish giant Real Madrid for a place in the quarter-finals.

Dynamo Moscow's Ukrainian international striker Andrei Voronin finished second in the poll (505) with Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov third (129). The results of the poll were announced on Thursday.

Owned by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov since the start of the year, Anzhi has brought in players including Brazilian Roberto Carlos, Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o and Russian Yuri Zhirkov.

The spending spree is expected to continue under former Lokomotiv Moscow boss Krasnozhan, who said: "Anzhi is one of the most popular clubs that attracts not only Russia but the whole world.

"To work under such conditions is not only hard and honourable but very interesting as well."

Asked how he would deal with big-name players, the 48-year-old told his new club's official website: "I don't have to cope with them, we are one single entity, one team."

Moscow's respected Sovietsky Sport daily said Zenit was interested in acquiring the 30-year-old Russia skipper and eventually assigning him to coach its youth club.

Sovietsky Sport said its source confirmed that 'Arsenal is ready to enter negotiations with Zenit'.

The report comes on the heels of British media speculation that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had decided to part with his struggling playmaker during the January transfer window.

"We are always interested in Arshavin," Zenit director Igor Korneyev told Sovietsky Sport.

"But I can neither confirm nor deny whether we have received an offer."

Arshavin's stock soared when he spearheaded one of the most dazzling Russian sides in decades to a semi-final appearance at EURO 2008.

Arsenal signed him early the next year after paying a 16.5 million euros transfer fee and saw him make an immediate impact with six goals in 12 games.

But he only scored once in the Premier League in 13 appearances this season and has only started for the squad on six occasions.

Arshavin's return to Russia has been rumoured repeatedly and he most recently denied interest in the big-spending Russian upstart Anzhi Makhachkala - the new home of Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o.

But Arshavin is reportedly frustrated that a lack of regular playing time is hurting his chances of making Russia's EURO 2012 team and is now more serious about making a move.

Sovietsky Sport said all transfer decisions at Zenit were made by the club's sponsor Gazprom and that the Russian natural gas giant - while currently looking for a striker - had long-term plans for its home darling.

"The player's return is possible if he decides on it," Gazprom boss Alexei Miller was quoted as saying earlier this month.

"We all have to return to our homelands sooner or later."

"I have repeatedly said that football's sources of financing are very limited and beer advertising is one channel that allows us to boost the revenues of clubs," the RFU chief said.

"But Russia's existing legislation has a blanket ban on beer advertising at football venues, thus preventing the clubs and the league from receiving extra funding.

"However, we will have to declare a moratorium on this law in 2018 to fit the FIFA demands for the World Cup hosting country. So, for me the changes to this law look inevitable."

FIFA currently has its own beer sponsor, meaning the Russians - who will host the 2018 World Cup - will have to amend or suspend the law banning beer advertising.

Fursenko added that he would also call the country's lawmakers to allow beer sales at football stadiums, a move that would boost club coffers.

"This will be a serious supplement to the clubs' budgets," said Fursenko, who claims that promoting beer will not lead to a general increase in alcohol consumption.

"Reliable statistical data state that beer advertising doesn't increase alcohol consumption in general, it simply has a redistribution effect at market level."

"Kuban showed selfless and inspirational playing throughout this season," said Krasnodar region governor Alexander Tkachev, who also presides over Kuban football club.

"We deservedly earned a place in the league's top eight. And now we are able to compete with the country's top clubs.

"And I think for us it was a logical move to offer Dan (Petrescu) a new contract."

The 43-year-old Petrescu took over at Kuban in 2010, winning promotion into the Russian Premiership in his first season.

No financial details of the new deal were disclosed.

Zenit netted twice in the opening 31 minutes through Danny and Sergei Semak to take charge of its match and even though Lokomotiv pulled a goal back before the break through Dennis Glushakov, it was not enough to deny the pace-setter.

The victory guaranteed Luciano Spalletti's men would remain in top spot heading into the winter break, but it got even better for Zenit as its nearest challenger CSKA Moscow suffered its second successive defeat in the champions group.

Host Anzhi Makhachkala took the lead through Shamil Lakhiyalov just after half-time but CSKA drew level moments later when Vagner Love netted.

The match looked to be heading for a draw but, after CSKA had lost goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov to a late red card, Cameroon ace Samuel Eto'o slotted in an 88th-minute penalty to earn Anzhi the points.

The other two matches - played on the final day of Premier League matches in 2011 - were in the relegation group.

Bottom club Tomsk is six points adrift at the foot of the standings after its goalless home draw with Krasnodar while Rostov and Amkar Perm played out a 1-1 tie.

Krasnodar, which is six points clear at top of the relegation group, took the lead through Razvan Cocis in the 33rd minute but Aleksandr Kolomeytsev drew Amkar level just before the hour to salvage a draw for his side.

The visitor was trailing to a Roman Eremenko strike after just four minutes with Gokdeniz Karadeniz adding another after 22 minutes.

Salvatore Bocchetti was also sent off 12 minutes from time for Dinamo, which remains third in the group four points behind leader Zenit St Petersburg.

Spartak Moscow is just a point behind the top three after a 1-1 draw with Kuban Krasnodar.

Lacina Traore fired Kuban in front after 37 minutes but Yevgeni Makeev rescued a point for Spartak four minutes from time.

Terek Grozny remains third in the relegation group after a 3-0 hammering by Spartak Nalchik - Jovan Golic and Magomed Mitrishev (two) with the goals.

An early goal from Sergey Kornilenko earned Krylya Sovetov a 1-0 win at home to Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

Two goals in the opening 27 minutes from Igor Semshov and Aleksandr Kokorin set third-placed Dinamo on its way and it held on for the points even though Kuban pulled a second-half goal back through Roman Bugaev.

The victory sees Dinamo close the gap to second-placed CSKA Moscow to just one point, while it is now four points behind leader Zenit St Petersburg, which drew with Anzhi Makhachkala in its opening game.

Spartak Moscow is in fourth spot after defeating fifth-placed city rival Lokomotiv 2-0, Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike netting both goals in the 26th and 44th minutes.

In the relegation play-offs, Rostov beat bottom club Tomsk 3-1.

Tomsk was reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute when Victor Stroev was sent off but despite that setback the visitor still went ahead in the 22nd minute through a Maksim Kanunnikov penalty.

Tomsk held that advantage until half-time, but when it lost a second player to another red card in the 53rd minute, Dmitriy Nikitinskiy receiving his marching orders, things started to fall apart and Rostov drew level through Roman Adamov's penalty before two more goals in the final 20 minutes from Michal Papadopulos and Adamov sealed the win.

Yura Movsisyan and Eugeni Shipitsyn put the home side 2-0 up within 18 minutes before Miodrag Djudovic (41) reduced the deficit.

Arsen Goshokov equalised 11 minutes into the second half but Marcio Abreu grabbed what proved to be the winner after 79 minutes and the visitor had Djudovic sent off in the closing seconds.

Amkar Perm claimed only its second away win of the season with a 2-1 success at nine-man Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

The home side took the lead after seven minutes through Alexander Belozerov, but then had Gia Grigalava sent off early in the second half.

Amkar soon took advantage to equalise through Vitali Grishin (59) and Nikita Burmistrov (61) put the visitor ahead, while the home side's misery was complete when Andrei Buivolov was dismissed with five minutes left.

The day's other game between Terek Grozny and Krylya Sovetov finished goalless.

Zenit, who finished the regular season with a two-point advantage over second-placed CSKA Moscow and 13 points clear of eighth-placed Anzhi, will be disappointed not to have claimed the win with its opponent playing the closing stages with a man less following the 81st-minute dismissal of Mbark Boussoufa.

There was some good news for Zenit, though, as it still managed to extend its lead over CSKA with that point as its nearest challenger suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Rubin Kazan in the day's other match.

Alexander Ryazantsev struck a 61st-minute winner for Rubin after the visitor had seen the early lead given to it by Alan Kasaev wiped out just before half-time by a Seydou Doumbia penalty for CSKA.

Those two matches were the first of the second phase of the Russian season, with the league having recently split into two divisions of eight - the championship play-offs and the relegation play-offs.

The opening two rounds of the play-offs will be played now, and the remainder in 2012.

The 30-year-old was linked in the Italian press with a possible return to Inter on a loan deal during the Russian league's winter break.

The Cameroon international left the Serie A giant last northern summer but insists a return is not imminent.

"Inter was a splendid time in my career," Eto'o told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Inter will remain in my heart, there is no doubt about that. But that is in the past.

"I am enjoying myself at Anzhi Makhachkala and football is taking big steps here."

Eto'o signed a three-year deal with Anzhi this northern summer and is among the world's highest paid players, earning a reported £17.9m after tax per season.

"The quality of life in Moscow is very good," he continued.

"I am always reminded of my wages but I want to reiterate that I didn't join Anzhi for money.

"I earned well at Inter and also at Barcelona and I had salaries that I could certainly not complain about.

"This new experience in my career is probably a great business deal but it's also a very interesting one.

"I am happy with the idea of being at the centre of a project.

"I am going through a unique and fascinating adventure and I'm exploring a new frontier."

Zenit had led through Igor Denisov's 28th-minute goal, but a Lacina Traore penalty in the 66th minute earned the host a 1-1 draw.

However, it remains five points clear of CSKA Moscow, which had trailed at Lokomotiv to an 11th-minute Vladislav Ignatiev strike before Seydou Doumbia levelled midway through the second half.

Rubin Kazan is down in seventh place after losing at Volga Nizhny Novgorod, which pulled clear of the drop zone with a 1-0 win, Shota Bibilov getting the goal after half-an-hour.

There was also a morale-boosting win for second-bottom Spartak Nalchik, which used goals either side of half-time to see off Amkar Perm 2-1.

Roman Kontsedalov scored seconds before the half-time whistle, and an own goal from Zahari Sirakov doubled the lead three minutes into the second half.

Substitute Yevgeni Tyukalov got a goal back for the visitor in the final minute.

Third-placed Dinamo, which started the game two points behind CSKA and two points ahead of fourth-placed Spartak, took the lead through Kevin Kuranyi but that advantage was cancelled out by an Aiden McGeady goal 12 minutes into the second half.

Spartak was reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute when Rafael Carioca was sent off, but Dinamo could not take advantage and it missed the chance to move above CSKA, which completes its campaign away to fifth-placed Lokomotiv Moscow on Sunday evening (Monday morning AEDT).

Zenit St Petersburg, which plays Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEDT), is already certain to finish in first place, while all top eight berths for the championship play-offs were decided prior to the final round of action, as were the eight teams consigned to play in the relegation play-offs

Elsewhere, Samuel Eto'o scored twice as Anzhi Makhachkala claimed a 3-1 comeback victory over 10-man Krylya Sovetov.

All four goals and the sending off came in a frantic 12-minute spell just after half-time. Roman Vorobyev put Krylya ahead in the 55th minute but Anzhi hit back through Eto'o (56), Shamil Lakhiyalov (64) and then Eto'o again with a 68th-minute penalty after Ivan Taranov had been dismissed.

Terek Grozny beat Krasnodar 2-0 with second-half goals from Aleksandr Pavlenko and Musa Mguni.

Meanwhile, Rostov overcame the 74th-minute dismissal of Kornel Salata to down Tomsk 2-1 thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Razvan Cocis. Earlier, Hector Bracamonte had given Rostov a 20th-minute lead before Victor Stroev levelled in the 68th minute.

First-half goals from Zvjezdan Misimovic and Kevin Kuranyi set Dinamo on its way and even though the visitor was reduced to 10 men after the 65th-minute dismissal of Vladimir Granat, it had already done enough to claim the win.

Dinamo, which was already guaranteed a top-eight finish and a place in the championship play-offs, is now third in the standings on 54 points, two above city rival Lokomotiv.

Tomsk, having now taken just one point from its last 11 matches, has long been consigned to playing in the relegation play-offs as one of the teams in the bottom eight, along with the other two sides in action, Krylya Sovetov and Terek Grozny.

Krylya won that contest 2-1, taking the lead in the 31st minute through Anton Bober and then, after Mauricio had drawn Terek level soon after, claiming the victory through Pavel Yakovlev's effort eight minutes into the second half.

With Krasnodar going down to a 2-0 home defeat by Kuban Krasnodar, it means Anzhi secured the spot in the top eight.

Zhirkov, signed from English Premier League side Chelsea in the northern summer, gave his side the lead two minutes before the break with Eto'o giving the Dagestan team a two-goal cushion with 10 minutes remaining.

Ilya Mikhalyov pulled one back in the last minute for the host but Anzhi held on.

The result meant Krasnodar could not make the play-offs and two goals from Lacina Traore (42, 68) gave its local rival, already in the top eight, victory in any case.

An Emmanuel Emenike hat-trick saw Spartak Moscow to a 3-0 win over 10-man local rival Lokomotiv.

Emenike struck in the second minute before getting his second after a quarter of an hour.

The Nigerian completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute, with the hosts' miserable day compounded eight minutes before full-time when Victor Obinna was sent off.

Zenit had turned up the pressure with a 3-0 victory over Volga Nizhny Novgorod on Thursdaay but CSKA responded well, Vagner Love giving it a first-half lead before being sent off 16 minutes from time.

Despite that, though, Seydou Doumbia's hat-trick - all in the last seven minutes, with his final two goals coming in stoppage time - gave the scoreline a one-sided look.

Rubin Kazan and Rostov drew 1-1 in the day's other game.

With both sides already knowing which side of the league's split they will end up on after their next game, there was little resting on this one.

Rubin, who will play off for the European places in the new year, took a 56th-minute lead through Salvatore Bocchetti but Maksim Grigorev responded five minutes later for Rostov, who is condemned to the bottom half.

Viktor Faitzulin opened the scoring after just two minutes, with Alexander Bukharov adding another eight minutes before the interval.

A 70th-minute penalty from Danko Lazovic put the result beyond doubt, moving Zenit five points clear at the top of the standings with one match of the regular season remaining.

After 30 rounds the league will split into two groups, with the top eight fighting it out for the title and European places.

The bottom eight, which includes Volga, will battle to avoid relegation.

Lokomotiv trailed to a 35th-minute goal from Danil Gridnev against second-bottom Nalchik but turned things around after the break, with Dennis Glushakov levelling up the scores in the 63rd minute before substitute Jan Durica snatched an 87th-minute winner.

Durica had only been on the pitch 60 seconds after replacing Brazilian Maicon.

The victory lifted Lokomotiv into third, a position Dinamo had occupied at the start of the day but it dropped to fourth after slumping to defeat at home to Rubin.

Both goals came in a 10-minute spell in the second half, with Alexander Ryazantsev putting Rubin ahead just before the hour mark and Bebras Natkho adding a second soon after.

With two rounds of the season left, Lokomotiv, Dinamo and Rubin are all assured of a top-eight finish in the standings and a place in the championship play-off. The remaining eight teams will play in the relegation play-off.

Anzhi got off to a flying start, scoring in the fourth minute through veteran Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o, who hit the target after CSKA keeper Sergei Chepchugov parried Kamil Agalarov's shot.

The Red Army side levelled 20 minutes later as Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia hit the first of a hat-trick. It came with a seven-metre header before he added two more goals after the interval.

Brazilian forward Vagner Love and Russian international midfielder Alan Dzagoev added one apiece to seal the victory.

Anzhi's Czech forward Jan Holenda netted a double late on, but it was too little, too late.

CSKA remains two points behind defending champion Zenit St Petersburg, which enjoyed a 3-1 win at Rostov.

Zenit has 57 points from 28 matches, while Dynamo Moscow, which takes on Rubin Kazan on Monday, sits third on 51 points.

Zenit was 1-0 ahead after nine minutes thanks to Portuguese midfielder Miguel Danny who scored from Sergey Semak's pass.

In the 15th minute, Serbian defender Aleksandar Lukovic made it 2-0 with a penalty after Alexander Bukharov had been fouled in the area. Bukharov added the third in the 32nd minute.

Four minutes after the interval Rostov's Argentinian forward Hector Bracamonte reduced the arrears.

"I'm very pleased with my team's performance," said Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti.

"We started very strong, scoring early to decide the match before the break. But it wasn't easy at all to win as Rostov is very strong physically."

Spartak Moscow thrashed visitor Tomsk 4-0. Spartak's Czech defender Marek Suchy, midfielder Dmitry Kayumov and Brazilian playmaker Ari (2) made sure of victory while Tomsk has now gone 11 matches without a goal.

With two rounds of matches remaining, Zenit remains two points ahead of CSKA, whose late-season slump has seen it relinquish first place.

But CSKA was 3-0 winner against Trabzonspor in the Champions League in midweek and impressed again today against its big-spending opponent, who moved into a fourth-minute lead when Samuel Eto'o scored.

By the time Anzhi scored again, it was trailing 5-1, as two goals from Seydou Doumbia were followed by further efforts from Vagner Love and Alan Dzagoev, plus an Ali Gadzhibekov own goal.

Anzhi pulled a goal back after 86 minutes through Jan Holenda, who also added its third in the 90th minute.

Zenit was convincing 3-1 winner away from home against Rostov, with first-half goals from Miguel Danny, Aleksandar Lukovic - a penalty - and Alexander Bukharov putting it comfortably clear. Hector Bracamonte scored a consolation for Rostov early in the second half.

Spartak Moscow beat bottom side Tomsk 4-0 thanks to goals from Marek Suchy, Ferreira Ari, who scored twice, and Dmitriy Kayumov.

Third-bottom Krylya took the lead through Sergey Kornilenko in the 41st minute but Kuban levelled things up four minutes after the break when Sergei Davydov equalised.

The draw means Kuban climb up to sixth spot on 45 points and is now assured of a top-eight finish as local rival Krasnodar, who is ninth, is now seven points behind with only two games of the regular season left.

Krasnodar still has a chance of claiming a play-off spot of its own though after claiming a 2-0 away win over Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

Krasnodar, who is the only side who can still break into the top eight, took the spoils with second-half goals from Otar Martsvaladze and Yura Movsisyan.

The win lifts Krasnodar onto 38 points, four behind eighth-placed Anzhi Makhachkala who occupy the final play-off spot.

However, Anzhi have a game in hand which it plays on Monday morning (AEDT) and a victory over CSKA Moscow would earn Samuel Eto'o and co the final play-off berth and leave Krasnodar out of the reckoning.

In the day's other match, Terek Grozny defeated Amkar Perm thanks to Antonio Ferreira's 70th-minute goal.

The French midfielder, who will turn 38 on October 29, was released by Aston Villa in the northern summer after a six-month spell with the club.

Pires claims there was English lower-league interest in signing him at one stage, but he is now looking elsewhere.

However, should he not receive an appealing offer, Pires has confirmed he will retire.

The former Marseille, Arsenal and Villarreal player told Marseille's official website: "I had interest from the English second division.

"I'm waiting to see if those from Qatar or Russia materialise, and if there is nothing I feel ready to stop.

"I know that the new buzz phrase is that a player is 'burnt out' but I know I'm not."

Mbark Boussoufa put the visiting side ahead in the 28th minute and, although Magomed Mitrishev snatched a last-gasp equaliser for the host, the draw left eighth-placed Anzhi seven points clear of ninth-spotted Krasnodar with three games remaining in the regular season.

The 16-team league will split into two groups of eight in the new year - the championship play-off and the relegation play-off.

Seventh-placed Kuban Krasnodar had already secured its top-half finish before today's 3-1 reverse at 11th-spotted Amkar Perm.

Nikola Mijailovic set the host on its way in the fourth minute and Josip Knezevic gave the side breathing space with a 58th-minute spot-kick before Aleksandr Kolomeytsev bagged a third goal 15 minutes from time.

Gheorghe Bucur netted a late consolation for Dan Petrescu's Kuban but it was too little, too late.

Fourth-placed Lokomotiv Moscow heaped further misery on Tomsk by beating the bottom club 3-0.

The visitor had Ovidiu Dananae sent off after 19 minutes and was further punished a minute later when Senijad Ibricic converted a penalty, with second-half strikes from Dennis Glushakov and Dmitri Sychev sinking the 10 men.

Rubin Kazan moved within a point of fifth-placed Spartak Moscow by also recording a 3-0 home win.

Cristian Noboa opened the scoring eight minutes after the interval and Alexander Ryazantsev doubled Rubin's advantage five minutes later.

Spartak's woes were compounded moments later by a red card for Emmanuel Emenike, and Bebras Natkho rubbed salt in its wounds with a third goal in the 90th minute.

Zenit's lead remained two points as CSKA Moscow let a 2-0 lead slip at home to Terek Grozny.

Brazilian forward Vagner Love put CSKA in front in the 39th minute and looked on course for a win when Seydou Doumbia added a second two minutes after the break.

However, the side from Chechnya hit back with two goals in two minutes, Aleksandr Pavlenko (68) and Mauricio (69) scoring to deny CSKA the victory.

Krasnodar kept alive hopes of playing in the top eight competition when the league splits in the new year, winning 2-0 at home to Rostov with goals from Eugeni Shipitsyn on the stroke of half-time and Joaozinho in the 57th minute.

The result left them six points behind eighth-placed Anzhi Makhachkala with three games of their 2011 campaign to go, with the big spenders from Dagestan having played a game less.

The day's other game between Krylya Sovetov and Volga Nizhny Novgorod finished goalless, with both sides certain to finish the year in the bottom eight.

Speculation in Italy yesterday suggested Inter were hoping to sign Eto'o on loan during the off-season in Russia, less than two months after selling him to Anzhi Makhachkala. Eto'o himself has suggested he would welcome the switch.

But Anzhi put out a strongly-worded statement last night denying their star man was available and Moratti claims to know nothing about it.

He told the club's official website, www.inter.it: "I've been away until today and I don't know anything about this Eto'o story.

"I've read the newspapers and I've seen the very aggressive reaction from the Russian club but they should know that it's all news to me.

"I have never had any talks with Eto'o."

Anzhi insist the 30-year-old Cameroon striker will remain in Russia during the winter to prepare for the new season.

"It's a strange idea and I intend to respect the agreement that I have with that club (Anzhi)," Moratti said.

"Of course it's pleasing that the player would gladly like to return with us but I think it's useless to discuss that because I honestly know nothing about it.

"We never spoke about this (loan) possibility during our negotiations.

"The squad is very fond of Eto'o, but I repeat there is no point talking about this because it is 90% unlikely to happen. I have no basis to comment on."

Eto'o was Inter's top scorer last season, netting a total of 37 goals in all competitions, helping the Nerazzurri win the Coppa Italia.

Inter have struggled since the departure of Eto'o and are 17th in the standings with four points from their first five league games - their worst start in Serie A in 28 years.

The Italian media suggested the Cameroon frontman had offered to move back to the San Siro when the Russian championship takes a break in January and February.

"It's impossible to imagine such a scenario, not even in your worst nightmare," Anzhi general director German Chistiakov said in quotes reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"At that time mentioned, Eto'o will be preparing for the season with Anzhi and he will do so with all of his professionalism."

Former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, currently in charge of Anzhi's Russian Premier League rival Zenit St Petersburg, laughed off the rumours.

"This story is just journalistic invention," Spalletti said. "It would be difficult for such a move to be done and I don't think it could be done.

"It would also be an admission of an error by Inter.

"Signing Eto'o would mean that the club doesn't have faith in their current players."

Eto'o left Inter in the northern summer to join Anzhi in a rich deal.

His sale came as a surprise to many, as the 30-year-old was the team's top scorer last season, netting 37 goals in all competitions and helping the club win the Coppa Italia.

Inter has struggled since the departure of Eto'o and is currently 17th in the standings with four points from its first five league games - its worst start in Serie A in 28 years.

The Nerazzurri sacked coach Gianpiero Gasperini last month and appointed Claudio Ranieri as his replacement, and Eto'o recently admitted he would relish the chance to work under the Italian one day.

"He wanted me at Chelsea and at Juve," Eto'o said. "It's a pity that I have not been able to work with him yet.

"Ranieri is a great coach and I'm happy that Inter chose him.

"I'm certain he will do well at Inter."

Eto'o has scored three goals in six appearances for Anzhi so far this season and is under contract until June 2014.

The Tvoi Den daily said Anzhi felt Tevez was there for the taking after his dramatic spat with City manager Roberto Mancini resulted in a two-week suspension for the Argentine star.

"The conditions for signing Tevez are very good," a source on the daily told the news paper.

The Caspian Sea side has become one of the sport's most brazen poacher of pricey talent since being acquired by the Russian oil and metals magnate Suleiman Kerimov this year.

The reported talks with Manchester City come just a month after Anzhi snatched Cameroon international Eto'o from Inter Milan in what was believed to have been a 21-million- euro ($A29.15 million) deal.

The former lower division side have also been boosted by the additions of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner Roberto Carlos and Russian international left winger Yuri Zhirkov.

Yet Anzhi have still slipped to eighth after a strong start to the season and are looking for another striker who can improve their dire tally of 29 goals from 26 matches.

Fifth-placed Spartak took the lead in the 22nd minute when Zenit's Russia international defender Aleksandr Aniukov put into his own net, but the visitor drew level six minutes before half-time through Danny and soon after the host lost Nicolas Pareja to a red card.

Zenit looked set to make the most of its numerical advantage when Alexander Kerzhakov put it ahead three minutes into the second half, but the 10 men of Spartak equalised in the 80th minute through Welliton to salvage a point.

The result keeps Zenit two points clear of second-placed CSKA Moscow, which was held 0-0 at sixth-placed Kuban Krasnodar.

Lokomotiv Moscow climbed into the top four after Felipe Caicedo's early goal helped it see off Anzhi Makhachkala, which drops to eighth after that defeat and Rubin Kazan's 2-0 win at bottom club Tomsk.

Salvatore Bocchetti netted both of Rubin's goals, opening the scoring in the 51st minute and then wrapping up the win six minutes from time.

Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos, the interim coach at Anzhi, had revealed that Capello was a prime target to succeed the sacked Gadzhi Gadzhiev at the ambitious Russian outfit.

However, Capello, whose England contract ends in 2012, insists there has been no contact and that he is determined to concentrate on Friday evening's (Saturday morning AEDT) trip to Montenegro where a draw will put his team in the finals next year.

"No-one has spoken to me from Russia, so I was surprised by everything that I read. But I read my name with Inter. I read my name with other teams, now the Russian team," said Capello.

"The answer is always the same. I am really focused on my job, to go to the Euros.

"Before we think about the summer, we need to reach to the Euros. I will speak to you about the future after the next game.

"We need to think about qualification first. The other things are completely out of my mind."

Capello has already sought advice from compatriot Giovanni Trapattoni on his experience in Montenegro with the Republic of Ireland.

"It will be noisy and intense. We also need to be careful about the provocation," he said.

With Zenit not in action, Dinamo closed the gap to two points and went level with CSKA Moscow - having now played a game more - as Andriy Voronin scored in each half.

Eugeni Shipitsyn had put Krasnodar in front with his 29th-minute strike but former Liverpool man Voronin led the fightback, levelling three minutes later and finding a winner with 15 left on the clock.

Terek Grozny continues to labour as it went down 1-0 at home to Spartak Nalchik, with Magomed Mitrishev scoring the first-half winner.

Igor Smolnikov's winner four minutes from time earned Rostov a 1-0 win at home to Krylya Sovetov.

Volga Nizhny Novgorod and Amkar Perm shared a goalless draw enlivened only by the dismissals of the visitors' Georgi Peev and then later on Dani Bondarv.

Anzhi sacked Gadzhiev with the club seventh in the Russian Premier League with five games remaining. Roberto Carlos and Gadzhiev's former assistant Andrei Gordeev have been placed in temporary charge.

The Dagestan-based club is bankrolled by billionaire Sulieman Kerimov and former Brazil fullback Roberto Carlos believes a big name will be targeted to fill the hot seat.

The 38-year-old, in remarks reported by the Daily Mail, said: "I am having dinner with the president and we'll speak about signings and coaches for next season.

"In terms of coaches, there are several names, such as Capello, Hiddink, (Vanderlei) Luxemburgo and (Luis Felipe) Scolari."

Kerimov has already spent vast amounts on the playing squad with Samuel Eto'o the most prominent arrival, the Cameroon striker reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in the world after his switch from Inter Milan last month.

Balazs Dzsudzsak and Yury Zhirkov have also been recruited and Roberto Carlos is intending to discuss more players with Kerimov.

He added: "We will talk about names like (Frank) Lampard, (Steven) Gerrard and (Robert) Pires."

Aleksandr Pavlenko opened the scoring for the visitor in the eighth minute but Eto'o replied six minutes later, his third in four games since joining the big-spending side from Inter Milan last month.

Anzhi was again behind two minutes from the final whistle through substitute Oleg Vlasov's effort, but there was time for Joao Carlos to net a second leveller.

After seeing title rival Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow win the previous day, Dinamo lost ground as it fell to Sergey Kornilenko's 11th-minute strike.

Its challenge was hampered further by Vladimir Granat's red card in the 36th minute.

It left Dinamo five points behind leader Zenit, three behind CSKA and two ahead of fourth-placed Spartak Moscow, which won 4-2 at Krasnodar.

Spartak led 2-0 through Emmanuel Emenike (32) and Artem Dzjuba (36), but Eugeni Shipitsyn pulled one back a minute later.

Demy de Zeeuw restored the two-goal advantage three minutes before the break and, after Shipitsyn grabbed his second three minutes after the restart, Dmitri Kombarov's 73rd-minute penalty settled things once and for all.

Kuban Krasnodar was a 1-0 winner at Spartak Nalchik, Lacina Traore's goal in the 31st minute keeping it firmly in the mix for a European place.

Lokomotiv Moscow was held to a 1-1 draw by Rubin Kazan as Alberto Zapater's 52nd-minute opener was cancelled out by substitute Vladimir Dyadyun 13 minutes from time.

Ten-man Rostov sealed a 1-0 victory at Amkar Perm thanks to Roman Adamov's 50th-minute goal, which came just a minute after Roman Emelyanov saw red.

Armed with that narrow points advantage over CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Moscow at the start of play, Zenit did the damage before half-time with goals from Viktor Faitzulin, Roman Shirokov and Alexander Kerzhakov, who also netted after the break.

Faitzulin gave Zenit a fourth-minute lead, doubled by Shirokov after 23 minutes.

Kerzhakov netted his first of the game after 43 minutes, and made it a double in the 54th minute to seal the emphatic win.

While Dinamo was not in action, and holds a game in hand on Zenit but now trails by five points, CSKA Moscow played and won.

It recorded a 3-1 home win over Volga Nizhny Novgorod, which did not come easily.

CSKA went ahead after six minutes through Seydou Doumbia but was pegged back after 17 minutes when Shota Bibilov netted.

It remained 1-1 at half-time, but the visitor was reduced to 10 men after 49 minutes when Inal Getigezhev was sent off.

CSKA eventually took control, edging 2-1 ahead when Alan Dzagoev scored in the 68th minute and tying up victory with a penalty from Sergei Ignashevich after 84 minutes.

The Portugal midfielder dragged Zenit level at 2-2 four minutes into the second half and then grabbed the winner 19 minutes later.

Earlier, Rubin moved into a two-goal lead thanks to a Bebras Natkho penalty and a Sergey Kisliak strike before Roman Shirokov gave Zenit hope approaching the half-hour mark.

Zenit is now the sole leader after CSKA Moscow was held to a 1-1 draw at Rostov.

Dmitri Kruglov opened the scoring for the host but Seydou Doumbia grabbed an equaliser for CSKA after 65 minutes.

Dinamo Moscow is up to second - ahead of CSKA on goals scored - after thrashing Amkar Perm 3-0 with efforts from Andriy Voronin, Igor Semshov and Pavel Nyakhaychyk.

Lokomotiv Moscow was an impressive 4-0 winner at Terek Grozny.

Two Dennis Glushakov penalties handed the Railwaymen a commanding half-time lead and second-half goals from Felipe Caicedo and Maicon completed the rout.

Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala fell to a 1-0 defeat at Kuban Krasnodar - Gheorghe Bucur netting the winner - while Demy De Zeeuw, Aiden McGeady and Emmanuel Emenike were on target as Spartak Moscow beat Krylya Sovetov 3-0.

Traore put the visitor ahead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute and, after Terek levelled the scores up four minutes later, the Ivorian striker netted what would prove to be the winner eight minutes after half-time.

The victory lifts eighth-placed Kuban onto 37 points, nine behind leader Zenit St Petersburg, with Terek 14 points further back in 10th place.