Rubin, CSKA to clash in Russian Cup final

MOSCOW, May 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russian league champions Rubin face holders CSKA Moscow on Sunday in the Russian Cup final.

The match takes place in the Arena-Khimki stadium near Moscow. Cup finals have traditionally been held at Moscow's Luzhniki, but as nomadic CSKA play the majority of their home games on its plastic surface, it was felt that the Muscovites would have an unfair advantage. Lokomotiv Moscow's 28,000-capacity ground was already booked.

The two sides clashed earlier in the year at the Luzhniki in the pre-season Super Cup, with CSKA winning 2-1.

CSKA's Brazilian trainer Zico, who took over at the club in January, is seeking to lift his first Russian trophy.

"I've managed to win quite a few cups in Brazil, Japan, Turkey and Uzbekistan," he told Sport Express. "I hope I'll be able to add the Russian Cup to that collection on Sunday."

Rubin, top of the Premier League with a two point-lead over second-placed CSKA, hail from Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, some 770 kms (450 miles) from Moscow.

The club's Turkish midfield player Gokdeniz Karadeniz feels that the former Red Army side will have an advantage in the final.

"Even if the game is taking place in Khimki you must understand that it doesn't change much," he told Sport Express. "Our opponents will feel at home there. After all, their fans won't have to travel a whole day on the train to get to the game."

The match kicks off at 2:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT).