UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow Preview
Real Madrid host CSKA Moscow in their final Group G match on Wednesday at 12:55 pm EST. The current European champions have already secured passage to the last 16 as group winners.
However, there will be no shortage of motivation for the players as CSKA handed Madrid their only loss in the competition in the reverse fixture. The Spanish giants falling 1-0 to their opponents in the Russian capital.
On the other hand, the visitors are already ruled out of the last 16 with AS Roma having secured second spot in Group G. Nevertheless, a win will see them beat Viktoria Plzen to a place in the Europa League.
Team News
Although Madrid coach Santiago Solari will not be relaxed about this fixture, a second choice lineup is likely. Isco, Marco Asensio and Federico Valverde should all feature in midfield. Likewise, Keylor Navas will start in goal behind the familiar pairing of Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane.
While Nacho, Casemiro and Toni Kroos are still out with injury, Marcelo is not certain. The Brazilian defender is fully recovered, but may not be risked. Despite progression being secured, Vinicius Jr. may remain on the sidelines. The 18 year old mostly being used by Solari as a late substitute.
CSKA continue to be without several injured players. Namely, Ilzat Akhmetov, Alan Dzagoev, Viktor Vasin and Aleksandr Makarov. Elsewhere, manager Viktor Goncharenko will be happy to have forward Abel Hernandez back. The 28 year old recently recovering from injury.
He will most likely now accompany top scorer Fedor Chalov and Nikola Vlasic in attack. The latter being a positive addition to the Russian club this season. The young Croatian is on loan from Everton, and already boasts seven goals in all competitions.
Lineups and Prediction
Real Madrid:Navas; Odriozola, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Valverde, Isco, Llorente; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; Chernov, Rodrigo, Nababkin; Shchennikov, Bistrovic, Oblyakov, Figueira; Vlasic, Chalov, Sigurdsson
Although a draw is very possible, the chances of CSKA picking up a win in the Spanish capital is unlikely. Solari’s men have seven wins out of eight matches in all competitions. Furthermore, the 13-time European champions are without a home-loss to Russian opposition since 1991.
Be that as it may, Goncharenko’s men have the ability to pull off a surprise. The club is the most successful in modern Russian history with 20 trophies. They also boast victories over Barcelona and Sevilla on Spanish soil in recent years.
If ‘Los Blancos’ take their foot off of the gas, their visitors will be ready to pounce. Knowing a draw against their illustrious opponents is enough should Roma defeat Viktoria in the Czech Republic. All in all, the plan remains a long shot given the current form of their hosts.
Real Madrid 3 – 1 CSKA Moscow
Photo credit to Kalaallit_ via Flickr
