The score and the xG side by side. Where they disagree, someone rode their luck or wasted chances — and that is exactly how the season-long gap builds up.
| Match | Score | xG | Who deserved it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krylia Sovetov — Krasnodar | 2:2 | 1.45 : 1.74 | even by chances |
| Zenit — CSKA Moscow | 1:2 | 1.91 : 1.85 | even by chances |
| Rostov — Fakel Voronezh | 3:1 | 1.66 : 0.51 | deserved |
| Orenburg — Akron Tolyatti | 2:2 | 1.27 : 1.01 | even by chances |
| Dynamo Makhachkala — Rodina Moscow | 2:0 | 2.22 : 0.28 | deserved |
| Dynamo Moscow — Spartak Moscow | 2:1 | 1.77 : 1.08 | deserved |
| Baltika Kaliningrad — Lokomotiv Moscow | 0:1 | 0.48 : 0.32 | even by chances |
| Rubin Kazan — Akhmat Grozny | 1:1 | 1.69 : 1.26 | even by chances |
Dynamo Makhachkala — 2.22 xG. Opponent: Rodina Moscow. Result: a win.