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Rubin Kazan 0-0 Zenit St. Petersburg: Rubin Retain Russian League Title

The Russian title holders had the chance to retain their crown against the 2007 champions.

Nov 21, 2009 7:56:40 AM

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Rubin Kazan have won the 2009 Russian Premier League after a 0-0 draw at home to Zenit St. Petersburg. Results elsewhere allowed the 2008 champions to win the title for the second successive year.

The hosts knew that if they could beat Zenit on their own turf, the title would be theirs. While Rubin probed for an opening, their fans were going through all manner of emotions in the stands as Spartak Moscow's match with CSKA Moscow swung one way and then the other.

No goals had arrived by half time, but CSKA's second goal just after the break was cheered as loudly as if Rubin had scored themselves.

Rubin pressed forward to try and win the title in style, but the woodwork and Zenit 'keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev kept the scores level. The hosts dominated for long periods in the second half, but Spartak's result meant that a stalemate was good enough for Rubin to retain their title as they lead by five points with one game to go.

However, the champions cannot celebrate quite yet as they have a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday at home to Dynamo Kiev. Should they beat the Ukrainian side, it would place either Inter or Barcelona in serious difficulties.

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