Zenit — CSKA, 22 April 2026

Add to defense

When the season schedule was created, it was probably assumed that Zenit's game with CSKA would be a grand finale of sorts, a game that would decide the top spots in the standings at the last minute. In reality, all the top teams had secured their positions well in advance. And the classic clash in St. Petersburg turned out to be merely a prestige match, in which the opponents will fight for their own reputations and for an extra dose of confidence before the playoffs.

Amid a lack of tournament motivation, the Red-Blues clearly underperformed defensively in their previous two games, and now the coaching staff is trying to restore the same intensity in their own half. After all, the Muscovites are tied with UNICS for first place in points allowed (74.3), meaning they are, by default, the better defensive team. CSKA followed its usual schedule these days: Monday after the game is a day off, Tuesday is a full-team practice at Krylatskoye, and then they depart from Sheremetyevo on an Aeroflot flight.

“Zenit is one of the best teams in the league, and our games against them are always exciting," stated CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "Even though the game is meaningless for the positions, I think both teams will play to win, and the game will be interesting for the fans.”

Newcomers ahead

The Muscovites' previous visit to St. Petersburg brought disappointment to the hosts, who lost in the WINLINE Basket Cup semifinals and then failed to take bronze against Parma. However, the St.Petersburg team is doing better in the VTB League, winning four of their last five games. Moreover, Zenit is currently without injured key rotation players, with the exception of Alex Poythress, who was injured early in the season and has already been replaced by another foreign player.

Incidentally, one of the foreign players who joined the team during the season is currently leading the scoring team under Dejan Radonjic – Johnny Juzeng, averaging 14.1 points on 45.7% three-point shooting. Followed by Trent Frasier (13.7 points, 5.8 assists), Luka Šamanić (12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds), Xavier Moon (11.7 points, 4.7 assists), and Andrey Martyuk (10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds).

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 47-22 (5-0 in EuroLeague, 18-0 against Triumph Lyubertsy)

Game of the 2025-26 VTB United League season:

VTB League. 12-Oct-2025. Zenit - CSKA: 84-85 (+1)
VTB League. 23-Nov-2025. CSKA - Zenit: 93-88 (+5)
VTB League. 24-Jan-2026. CSKA - Zenit: 93-90 (+3)
WBC. Semifinal. 10-Apr-2026. CSKA - Zenit: 88-74 (+14) (formally CSKA was a host)

Brief dossier

Zenit St.Petersburg, Russia

Founded: 2014
Colors: dark-blue, white, light-blue
Homecourt: KSK Arena (7,120)
CEO: Alexander Tserkovny
Interim head coach: Rostislav Vergun
Website: bc-zenit.com
Trophy case: VTB United League Champion (2022), Russian Champion (2022), 5-time VTB United League bronze medalist (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024), 5-time Russian Championship bronze medalist (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024), Russian Cup Winner (2024)