The Irish-based pay-TV broadcast earlier agreed a deal to air 60 Russian Premier League games in North America. The new Russian season kicks off on the weekend of March 14-15, and the Spartak-Zenit game will see the current UEFA Cup holders take on the most successful Russian club of the 1990s.
Russia soccer has seen a boom of late, with the national side reaching the semifinals of last summer's Euro 2008 and clubs like Zenit and CSKA Moscow enjoying success in Europe.
"With Zenit St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow winning the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 2008, Russian clubs are amongst the most competitive and skilled in Europe. Additionally, Russian-born players Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko have joined Barclays Premier League teams Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur," a Setanta statement earlier read.
"We are very proud to include the Russian Premier League to our sports line-up," said Shane O'Rourke, President of North American and Australian Operations. "With a list of leading teams, top players and a season that runs from March to November, we can provide our viewers with world-class programming all throughout the year," he added.
Matches will be shown both live and in a pre-recorded format.
