MOSCOW, October 26 (RIA Novosti) - Less than a week after their historic victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Rubin Kazan reclaimed the top spot in the Russian Premier League with a 2-1 win in Rostov on Sunday.

Knocked off the top by Spartak Moscow on Saturday, title holders Rubin knew that only a win against a side that beat them in Kazan earlier in the season would see them overtake the perennial 1990s champions.

Argentine forward Alejandro Dominguez gave Rubin the lead in the 16th minute to take some of the pressure off, running past the Rostov defense to fire home. It was another Argentine, defender Cristian Ansaldi, who doubled Rubin's advantage on the stroke of half-time, his long-range shot leaving Rostov keeper Veniamin Mandrykin with no chance.

Rostov grabbed one back just after the break, Bosnian forward Mersudin Ahmetovic firing in from close range. But there was no denying Rubin their third successive 2-1 win.

The result means that with four games left to play, Rubin have 53 points and Spartak 52. Both sides still have to play third-placed Zenit, who drew 2-2 against Spartak Nalchik on Sunday.

In other results, CSKA Moscow fell to a shock 3-1 home defeat to FC Moskva, the defeat putting the final nail in the former Red Army's side's hopes of claiming the title. The win sees Moskva leapfrog Lokomotiv Moscow and CSKA into 4th place.

The first three teams go into the 20010/11 Champions League, with the fourth and fifth-placed sides entering the Europa League.

At the wrong end of the table, Kuban, Spartak Nalchik and Amkar are locked in a battle to avoid joining Moscow Region club Khimki in the First Division next season. Two teams go down.

Results October 24-25

Krylya Sovetov 2-0 Terek Grozny

Khimki 0-3 Spartak Moscow

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-2 Saturn

Amkar 0-0 Tom Tomsk

CSKA Moscow 1-3 FC Moskva

Zenit St. Petersburg 2-2 Spartak Nalchik

Kuban 1-1 Dynamo Moscow

Rostov 1-2 Rubin

Table (after 26 games)

Rubin - 53

Spartak Moscow - 52

Zenit St. Petersburg - 47

FC Moskva - 44

CSKA Moscow - 43

Lokomotiv Moscow - 42

Saturn - 36

Dynamo Moscow - 35

Krilya Sovetov - 33

Terek Grozny - 33

Tom Tomsk - 32

Rostov - 31

Amkar - 28

Spartak Nalchik - 26

Kuban - 24

Khimki - 10