Lokomotiv wary of slip-up as title nears

MOSCOW: Russian Premier League leaders Lokomotiv Moscow will be on the alert against Ufa this weekend as they close in on their first domestic title since 2004.

Lokomotiv are six points clear of second-placed reigning champions Spartak Moscow, requiring six points from their remaining four matches to clinch the championship.Lokomotiv could in theory wrap up the title this weekend but head coach Yury Syomin has warned his players to put any thoughts of celebrations on hold.

“We’re in a good position but we haven’t won the league yet,” he told the club website. “We shouldn’t start celebrations before we claim the title.“Ufa are currently in their best ever sixth place due to solid performances this season, while our previous match with Akhmat showed that we experience problems in battling through compact defences. I expect a tough match on Sunday.” Spartak, who unexpectedly crashed out of the Russian Cup in midweek after a penalty shootout defeat to Tosno following a 1-1 draw, will look to keep the pressure on Lokomotiv.

Spartak manager Massimo Carrera took full responsibility for the cup loss, and said his team will battle to retain their title until they are officially out of the running.Third-placed CSKA Moscow, who are eight points behind Lokomotiv, will continue their race for the third and final spot in next season’s Champions League.

CSKA, who thrashed Amkar Perm 3-0 in their last league game, meet a Krasnodar side with their own ambitions of earning a place in Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative tournament.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday: Rubin Kazan v Rostov (1330), Anzhi Makhachkala v Ural Yekaterinburg (1600)

Sunday: SKA Khabarovsk v Dynamo Moscow (0800), Arsenal Tula v Zenit St Petersburg (1100), Tosno v Amkar Perm (1330), CSKA Moscow v Krasnodar (1330), Lokomotiv Moscow v Ufa (1600)

Monday, Spartak Moscow v Akhmat Grozny (1630).

Bulgarian club fires Kenyan for racism: Bulgarian first division club Slavia Sofia said they had sacked their Kenyan defender Aboud Omar for racism and systematically insulting team-mates.

“Our patience is at an end,” said club president Ventsislav Stefanov in a press release. “I decided to throw Aboud Omar off the team and cancel his contract.” Stefanov said the 25-year old left-back’s personality had “radically changed” in recent months and accused him of racism against Bulgarians. “For no apparent reason, the player became cruel and arrogant,” Stefanov said. “He learned the most vulgar phrases in Bulgarian and began to address them at his team-mates.”