The 2026/27 Russian Premier League season has already produced several surprises, and after six rounds the competition is beginning to develop a fascinating shape. While traditional giants such as Zenit St Petersburg, Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow remain among the main contenders, it is Krasnodar that has made the strongest start.
The new campaign has also brought renewed attention to promoted clubs, impressive performances from several less-fancied sides and a number of unexpected results involving the country's biggest teams. With the season still in its early stages, the table is far from settled, but the first six matchdays have already revealed some important trends.
Krasnodar Makes the Perfect Start
The biggest story of the opening weeks has undoubtedly been Krasnodar.
The club has won all six of its league matches, collecting 18 points from a possible 18 and establishing an early advantage at the top of the table. Krasnodar has scored 11 goals and conceded only four, giving the club a goal difference of +7.
The perfect record is particularly impressive because Krasnodar has already faced several challenging opponents. The campaign began with a 3-1 away victory over Rubin Kazan, followed by a 3-2 home win against Fakel Voronezh.
The third round produced perhaps the most important result of the early season. Krasnodar travelled to Moscow and defeated Spartak 2-1 at the Lukoil Arena in front of almost 39,000 spectators.
Olaza and Batxi scored for Krasnodar after Spartak had taken the lead through Manfred Ugalde. The victory demonstrated that Krasnodar is not simply accumulating points against weaker opposition; the club is capable of beating major title rivals away from home.
Krasnodar subsequently defeated Akhmat Grozny 1-0, Dynamo Makhachkala 1-0 and Rostov 1-0.
That sequence is particularly interesting because three of Krasnodar's six victories have come by a single goal. The team has therefore combined attacking efficiency with an increasingly disciplined defence.
The next major test comes against Krylia Sovetov Samara on September 5. Another victory would further strengthen Krasnodar's position and increase pressure on the traditional powers chasing them.
Spartak Has Started Strongly
Spart
