CSKA Moscow vs Sporting Prediction and Preview – 26/08/15
Champions League preview – CSKA Moscow vs Sporting prediction
CSKA Moscow manager Leonid Slutsky has no real injury or suspension concerns ahead of the return leg of this tie in Moscow. Therefore, CSKA could start with the same team that featured in the first leg in Lisbon. Bibras Natcho started in the defensive midfield positions in the league on the weekend but expect Pontus Wernbloom to come back in for this game.
Similarly to CSKA, Sporting have no new injuries or suspension worries ahead of this match. However, key central midfielder, William Carvalho is still out for Sporting with a tibia fracture and he will be a big miss for this match. Central defender Ewerton is also still on the sidelines and isn’t expected to be back until October.
Possible Line-ups
CSKA Moscow: 4-2-3-1 formation: Akinfeev; M. Fernandes, Ignashevich, V. Berezutski, Nababkin; Dzagoev, Wernbloom; Tosic, Eremenko, Musa; Doumbia
Sporting: 4-4-1-1 formation: Patricio; Pereira, Oliveira, Naldo, Jefferson; Joao Mario, A. Silva, Carrillo, Ruiz; Gutierrez; Slimani
- CSKA Moscow have won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Sporting have won 6 and drawn 4 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, CSKA Moscow have scored an average of 1.8 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Sporting have scored an average of 1.5 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of CSKA Moscow’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Sporting’s previous 10 matches
- Sporting are without a victory in 14 European matches away from home
An 82nd minute winner by striker Islam Slimani, gives Sporting the edge going in to the second leg of this Champions League play-off in Moscow. However, CSKA Moscow have, what could be a vital away goal to their name thanks to Seydou Doumbia and come in to the match trailing 2-1.
CSKA Moscow have only lost 1 of their last 14 competitive matches at home but they only managed a 2-2 draw with Sparta Prague in the previous round of Champions League qualifying at the Khimki Arena. Any kind of draw would not be good enough for CSKA, they have to win the match to stand any chance of going through to the group stages.
Sporting have the upper hand going in to the match but their away record in European competition is poor. That being said, manager Jorge Jesus has great experience of European competition with his previous club Benfica and will be hoping his know-how can rub off on the players.
Sporting know that any kind of draw will do and if they can get a goal, that could be enough to send them through.
We say: Draw and under 2.5 goals at 7/2 with Bet365
What are your predictions?