The victory kept Zenit eight points ahead of Lokomotiv Moscow with just four games left to play. As well as Azmoun's double, Samara skipper Taras Burlak put through his own goal with Igor Smolnikov adding a fourth. Lokomotiv edged Yenisei Krasnoyarsk 2-1 to keep their slim hopes alive with Krasnodar, who beat CSKA Moscow 2-0, in third, three points further back.
