Russian beach soccer league kicks off in Saratov

Kristall will take on CSKA Moscow in the opening match on Wednesday

One of the top beach soccer leagues in the world kicks off today at the Ice Sports Palace in Saratov.

Seven of Russia’s elite clubs will start the first stage of the Russian Beach Soccer Championship: Moscow’s Lokomotiv, Spartak and CSKA, St. Petersburg’s Kristall and Lex, as well as Krylia Sovetov from Samara and local Saratov side Delta.

The opening stage of the 2021 league will run from 19 until 23 May, where three games will be played per day, with one club resting each matchday.

The first match begins at 15:30h local Saratov time (11:30 GMT), where European champions Kristall will get the ball rolling against CSKA, who finished fifth in the 2020 edition.

Kristall finished in third place in the previous edition of the Russian league, but went on to win both the Euro Winners Cup and the Russian Cup later in the 2020 season, and Angelo Schirinzi’s squad will be intent on reclaiming their national title.

Defending champions Lokomotiv will be in search of their sixth Russian crown, and they kick off their title-retention campaign against Delta later in the day at 18:30h local time.

2020 finalists Spartak will face Krylia Sovetov at 17:00h local time. Day 1 will see Lex (St. Petersburg) sit out on the action, and their first test will come on Thursday against hosts Krylia Sovetov.

Live broadcasts of the matches will be available at tricolor.tv.

FIXTURES

19/05

Kristall – CSKA
Spartak – Krylia Sovetov
Lokomotiv – Delta

20/05

Krylia Sovetov – Lex
Spartak – Lokomotiv
CSKA – Delta

21/05

Lokomotiv – CSKA
Kristall – Krylia Sovetov
Delta – Lex

22/05

Krylia Sovetov – CSKA
Spartak – Lex
Delta – Kristall

23/05

Lex – Lokomotiv
Spartak – Kristall
Delta – Krylia Sovetov