MOSCOW (AFP) - Nine-time champions Spartak Moscow remained top of the Russian league although they were held to a 1-1 draw at Vladivostok on Saturday.

Spartak top the table with 33 points after 18 matches, two points ahead of second-placed St Petersburg. FC Moscow sit third on 30 points but have a chance to join Spartak on top should they win at Krasnodar on Sunday.

Vladivostok got off to a lively start against Spartak eight minutes into the match when midfielder Dmitry Smirnov swept the ball in following a corner.

Spartak pulled the scores level eight minutes after the interval through forward Alexander Prudnikov, who fired the ball home under Czech goalkeeper Marek Cech.

Saint Petersburg, who were third ahead of this weekend's round of matches, missed their chance to share the lead with Spartak as they failed to beat Perm, recording a goalless draw.

Meanwhile, Dynamo Moscow also missed a chance to come closer to the leading trio as they were held to a 2-2 draw by their city rivals Lokomotiv.

Former Russian international striker Ruslan Pimenov put Dynamo into the lead in the 60th minute, firing home a rebound after Lokomotiv goalie Ivan Pelizzoli deflected Kirill Kombarov's initial shot.

Dmitry Sychev levelled 10 minutes later but Pimenov lifted Dynamo 2-1 up in the 73rd minute, sending the ball into the net with a header after a corner.

But Dynamo failed to keep their lead though as Lokomotiv's recently-signed Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie levelled at 2-2 with three minutes to go.