Zenit are seven points clear of reigning champions Lokomotiv Moscow, who beat Arsenal Tula 3-1 on Saturday to climb up to second.

Krasnodar are one point further back following a 2-2 draw with Rostov.

“I’m pleased with my team’s performance,” Zenit coach Sergei Semak said. “We played very well in defence and gave Akhmat no chance to score.”

“We created plenty of chances in attack and could have scored more than once today. After we were reduced to 10 men it got a bit nervy but we were still in control.”

Marchisio, who joined Zenit in September after leaving Italian giants Juventus, netted the only goal on 31 minutes from the spot after Slovakia international Róbert Mak was fouled in the area.

Zenit were forced to see out an anxious final few minutes following the dismissal of Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes for a second bookable offence.

Elsewhere, Krasnodar conceded an 81st-minute equaliser to lose ground on Zenit.

Ari struck twice for Krasnodar after Eldor Shomurodov had given Rostov an early lead.

But the hosts couldn’t hold on as Rostov defender Sverrir Ingason sent home a rebound at a corner to snatch a draw.

Spartak Moscow, the 10-time former Russian champions, suffered an unexpected 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Ural Yekaterinburg.

Bulgarian midfielder Nikolay Dimitrov and forward Andrei Panyukov both struck for Ural, with Brazilian Luiz Adriano on target for Spartak.