Sochi prematurely lost the chance to stay in the RPL after Dynamo's draw with Akhmat

Sochi Football Club has lost its mathematical chances of retaining its place in the Russian Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season. This became possible after Dynamo Makhachkala's draw with Akhmat Grozny in the 29th round.

The match in Grozny ended with a score of 1:1. In the 38th minute, the guests were led by Mohamed Azzi, and in the 84th Galymzhan Kenzhebek scored his debut goal for Akhmat and brought the hosts a draw.

Before the match, players, coaches and referees took to the field with portraits of relatives who participated in the Great Patriotic War as part of the "Immortal Regiment" campaign, which is being held by the RFU.

Dynamo Makhachkala extended its unbeaten streak to nine matches and ranks 14th with 25 points. Sochi closes the table with 21 points and will no longer be able to leave the relegation zone. The Black Sea team was the first to lose their registration in the top division this season. Akhmat is ninth with 36 points.

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Rodina football player Stanislav Bessmertny — about the club's readiness to play in the elite division and Dynamo's departure from the National Cup

Zenit St. Petersburg beat Sochi at home on the same day in the match of the 29th round of the Russian Football Championship and topped the RPL standings. The match took place on Sunday in St. Petersburg and ended with a score of 2:1 in favor of the hosts. The visitors led after the first half — Zakhar Fedorov scored in the 31st minute. Zenit scored a strong-willed victory with precise strikes from Luis Enrique (59th minute) and Alexander Erokhin (84th minute). Luis Enrique missed a penalty in the 13th minute.