2017–18 Russian Premier League

Competition format and participants

Sixteen clubs competed in the league, each playing every other team twice — once at home and once away — for a 30‑match program per club. Points followed the standard system (three for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss) and the final table determined the champion, places for European competition and which teams would be relegated or face play‑offs. The league included familiar sides from across Russia, such as Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow, Zenit Saint Petersburg and others representing regional football strongholds.

Season summary

The season produced a competitive title race that ended with Lokomotiv Moscow crowned champions. Spartak Moscow, who had lifted the trophy the previous year, were among the contenders but were unable to retain their crown. The final standings also decided which clubs would qualify for continental tournaments: the highest-ranked teams earned places in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for the following season.

Promotion, relegation and European qualification

• Promotion and relegation between the Premier League and the second tier (the Russian National Football League) were settled by final league positions and, where applicable, by play‑offs between clubs near the dividing line.
• Top finishers qualified for UEFA club competitions the next season, providing both sporting prestige and important financial rewards.

Statistics, awards and legacy

Alongside the title race, the season produced individual honours for high performers: leading goalscorers, top assist providers and goalkeeper statistics were tracked and presented at the end of the campaign. Lokomotiv's triumph reinforced the club's status among Russia's elite and shaped the following season's European entries. For more detailed match results, player statistics and club information, consult league summaries and club reports (Russian Premier League overview, Spartak Moscow season pages).

The 2017–18 edition is remembered for its tightly contested fixtures and for returning Lokomotiv to the summit of Russian football, a notable outcome in the modern era of the Premier League. Contemporary coverage, statistics and season retrospectives remain available through official and specialist football resources for readers who want game‑by‑game detail or deeper analysis (Russian title page, Lokomotiv coverage).