Defending champions Rubin Kazan enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 win away to nearest rivals Spartak Moscow to go four points clear at the summit. In a match already being touted as a title six-pointer, the visitors went ahead through Russia playmaker Sergei Semak's 33rd-minute opener.

A penalty converted by Alejandro Dominguez shortly before the break undermined Spartak's attempt at a comeback and when striker Alexander Bukharov struck in the 58th minute, it was all over.

Zenit St. Petersburg enjoyed a 4-0 away win over rock-bottom Khimki, who played most of the second half with nine men. Zenit were already 2-0 up through Fatih Tekke and Vladimir Bystrov when Sebastien Sansoni was dismissed in the 52nd minute, only to be followed five minutes later by Yevgeniy Gapon.

The visitors completed the rout with goals by Alessandro Rosina and Maksim Zinoviev's own goal.

Elsewhere, Krylya Sovetov beat fourth-placed Dinamo Moscow 3-1 with substitute Roman Adamov scoring two goals within four minutes of coming on in the second half.

Jiri Jarosik completed the scoring before Dinamo had Aleksandr Dimidko, who had earlier given them the lead, sent off with eight minutes to go.

CSKA Moscow suffered a 1-0 defeat at mid-table Rostov, substitute Mikhail Osinov scoring the winner with six minutes to play.