CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester United: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester United is a game which could have significant bearing on the tightly contested Champions League Group B.
With CSKA, United, PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg each having won one and lost one so far, the group is up for grabs.
For United, having lost away to PSV, this trip offers them a chance to improve on their away record, which is once again a little shaky this season. The successful trip to Goodison Park on Saturday may have been a crucial tonic in this regard.
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CSKA have been unable to progress beyond the group stages of the Champions League itself since 2011/12, so taking maximum points here would help them reach a lofty goal.
They are in fine domestic form having finished second in last season's Russian Premier League, and they have brought back Seydou Doumbia on loan and are five points clear 12 games into the current campaign, having not lost a league game yet.
Speaking at his pre-match press-conference, per Goal, CSKA head-coach Leonid Slutsky said:
"We have played a lot of games against big clubs—some have gone well, some a little worse—so we're ready.
These back-to-back matches are always crucial; we have to respect our opponents and be aware that we are up against a giant side, but we have the right to hope for a positive result.
"
We have a team with plenty of experience.
Reporter Dmitri Rogvitski wrote for UEFA.com that, "Slutsky's team are six months without defeat" at Arena Khimki, which will surely feed into their confidence ahead of this one.
Louis van Gaal addressed the closeness of the group in his pre-match press conference, saying, "We've lost one game v PSV and we want to gain at least one point against CSKA. This is a very important match for us."
It was interesting to hear him overtly acknowledging that a point would constitute a good result, saying, per United's Twitter account, "Three points is better but one is good."
Date: Wednesday, 21 October
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Arena Khimki, Moscow, Russia
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK Only) / Fox Sports 2 (US Only)
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK Only) / Fox Sports 2 Go (US Only)
Form Lines
CSKA Moscow: LWDWWW
Manchester United: WWWWLW
Team News
United's website reports that CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is expected to play "despite a recent knock," while experienced central defender Vasili Berezutski and midfielder Bibras Natcho are doubtful.
Israeli midfielder Natcho would be a big miss for Slutsky's side, having scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in last season's league campaign, as well as getting a goal and two assists in the Champions League last time out.
James Wilson, Ashley Young, Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw are the only United players unavailable for this one, according to ManUtd.com.
Wilson is suffering from illness, and the other three were already absent. The website also reported that Antonio Valencia and Sergio Romero have returned to the squad.
Predicted Lineups
With Berezutski a doubt, his identical twin brother, Aleksei, will likely line up next to Sergei Ignashevich in the centre of CSKA's defence. Elsewhere, if Natcho is absent, Roman Eremenko is likely to play in deeper-lying midfield. Should Natcho start, then only three of Eremenko, Alan Dzagoev, Zoran Tosic and Ahmed Musa can feature.
Elsewhere, Slutsky's lineup is likely to have a familiar look to those who have followed CSKA so far this season.
Van Gaal should have no need to ring the changes after United's pitch-perfect performance at Everton on Saturday. With Ander Herrera restored to the line-up, United looked as functional as they have done all season.
Other than the possibility of swapping out Bastian Schweinsteiger for Michael Carrick and a left-field selection choice for right-wing, Van Gaal should look to maintain momentum by selecting the same XI.
The Dutchman appeared to have stumbled into a very well-balanced side against Everton, one which should be well set up to manage the challenge CSKA will offer.
The additional defensive stability offered by an on-form Phil Jones should be preferred to Daley Blind's ball-playing talents, given that there is a lot of pace, movement and guile in Moscow's front four.
Players to Watch
Doumbia has been in sparkling form for CSKA so far this season, with five goals and five assists in the league and two Champions League strikes already.
Doumbia is thriving in the place he called "home" in an interview for Africa Top Sports in September (h/t the Daily Express) after returning on a season-long loan after a disappointing spell with Roma earlier this year.
Doumbia said:
"In Rome I was not happy and I did not enjoy my football. From the very first day I never felt comfortable.
I needed to start over and so I thought why not go back "home" [to CSKA]. I started really well and I hope to keep it up.
"
The forward also discussed interest from English clubs, saying:
"I had other offers from England but in the end I chose to go back to Russia, as there was the Champions League and I knew I would feel most comfortable at CSKA.
During my time with the Giallorossi, I never enjoyed playing. At CSKA, I am finding that joy again.
"
That joy is clearly bringing results, and United will have to be mindful of the Ivorian's pace, movement, skill on the ball and finishing ability.
For United, Ander Herrera's goal and assist on Saturday proved what a vital component he can be for United's team.
Speaking at his press conference after the Everton game, Van Gaal said Herrera would be difficult to drop in his current form, per the Daily Mirror, and it was easy to see why.
He looked alive to opportunity almost every time United had the ball, combining quick, darting runs with superb pass selection. He also judged his run into the box for his headed goal beautifully, and it was his sweet strike that brought about the corner from which Morgan Schneiderlin opened the scoring.
Herrera should be starting every game for Van Gaal, no matter who else needs to be left out to accommodate him, and he is certainly one to watch for this game.
Key Battle
Keeping things tight at the back will be the challenge for United. CSKA have been scoring freely so far this season, so the key battle could be between United's deep-lying midfielders and defenders and Moscow's front four.
With three players buzzing about and providing support for Doumbia, United's defence will have to be switched on and maintain positional discipline throughout, if David De Gea is not to be overly relied upon.
Odds
The following are the odds for the game, at the time of writing, per Odds Shark:
CSKA Win: 193/100
Draw: 61/25
Manchester United Win: 8/5
All advanced statistics per WhoScored. Quotations obtained first hand where not otherwise stated.
