Zenit Saint Petersburg — Chekhovskiye Medvedi: 28:27, Superleague

Zenit Saint Petersburg secured a narrow victory over Chekhovskiye Medvedis with a final score of 28:27 in the Superliga on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The match concluded in a tense atmosphere as the home side held on for a single-goal win. And here's the thing — it wasn't the most dominant performance, but the result matters.

Going into the fixture, Zenit sat in second place with seven points from four games — three wins and one defeat. Chekhovskiye Medvedis had been slightly less consistent, sitting sixth with five points from three outings. The gap between them wasn't vast, and this match could shift things.

Zenit's recent form showed resilience, including a draw against KhK Saratov and a 25:23 win over Dynamo Sungul. Chekhovskiye Medvedis had mixed results too — a 28:28 draw with Permskie Medvedis and a convincing 39:28 victory over Kavkaz. Both sides came in with momentum, but different rhythms.

We had called for a home win with 53 per cent confidence before kickoff, and the outcome confirmed that assessment. To be fair, Zenit's edge at home has been clear this season, and the home advantage proved decisive once again.

The one-goal margin leaves the standings largely unchanged, though Zenit move closer to the top. Chekhovskiye Medvedis remain in the lower half but still have room to climb. The result keeps the title race tight and suggests the Superliga is far from decided.