Anzhi Makhachkala, promoted to the Premier League after winning Russia's First Division last season, started their season in the top flight with a 0-0 home draw against Spartak Nalchik.
In a hard-fought contest in the Dagestani capital it was the team from the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino Balkaria that had the better of the game, but neither side could find a goal.
The season opened with CSKA's least-minute victory over Amkar Perm in Moscow on Friday, while earlier on Saturday Zenit St. Petersburg also recorded a 1-0 win, against Krylya Sovetov in Samara.
The game was the first of a dozen Caucasus derbies this season, with Chechnya's Terek Grozny and Alania Vladikavkaz of North Ossetia - promoted to the Russian Premier League after FC Moskva folded last month - also playing in Russia's top division.
MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti)