On 27 August 2009, after four seasons with Zenit's archrivals Spartak Moscow, the winger suddenly returned to his former club, signing until June 2014.

Due to his spell at rivals Spartak Moscow, Zenit supporters still can't find it in their hearts to forgive and direct jeers towards him at their games.

[citation needed] In March 2010, Zenit was to be rewarded for finishing third in the Russian championship by the city of Saint Petersburg, but the ceremony ended with the players storming off the stage after Bystrov had been heckled by parts of the audience.

His displays have not gone unnoticed in the last couple of years and he has been linked with moves to both England's Premier League and Germany's Bundesliga.

He was a substitute in Russia's opening match, the 4–1 defeat to Spain, coming on for Dmitri Sychev in the 46th minute before being swapped for Roman Adamov in the 70th.