CSKA Moscow V Sevilla Betting: UEFA Champions League

CSKA Moscow V Sevilla

Wednesday, 24^th February – 17:30 GMT

Introduction

Ah, it’s another one of those early Champions League fixtures as a Russian side, something you don’t see too much of in the knock-out stage of the Champions League, hosts a tricky Spanish Sevilla in the last sixteen in what will be a bitter, cold evening in Moscow, with a spot in the Quarter-Finals up fro grabs for the two-legged winner. Both domestic form and European reputation has seen Sevilla slashed in price and made firm favourite to progress over two legs, but will the bookies be proven right in their assessment of the two or will the CSKA prove o be this seasons Dark Horses in the Champions League?

CSKA Moscow will know only a win will do in their quest to make the quarter-finals, but will be hard-pressed to attain a first leg lead against what is the upcoming team in Spain. Moreover, the Spanish side, whom have beaten both Real Madrid & Barcelona this season, are flying-high in the Spanish La Liga and already have twenty-two league games under their belts, as well as several cup outings. CSKA, however, haven’t played a competitive fixture since the end of November due to the Russian league coming to a close, almost three months ago now, and that will be a double-edged sword for the side from Moscow in Russia. Arguably, CSKA Moscow will be the fresher of the two sides, but what they boast in stamina they will lack in match fitness and that makes the Russians a dangerous proposition against what will be a sharper Sevilla side.

To Qualify

CSKA Moscow – 3.00 totesport     Sevilla – 1.40 PaddyPower

CSKA Moscow

Champions League Odds: 200/1 SportingBet

The Russians, whom haven’t played a competitive fixture in nearly three months, will get their first real piece of competitive action when they take on Sevilla at the Luzhniki stadium in the Russian capital of Moscow. It’s a venue where CSKA secured two of their three group wins after reigning supreme in their home encounters with Wolfsburg and Beskitas, so will they land a similar blow to their Spanish visitors and make home advantage pay in this pivotal first leg. 

We say pivotal as defeat would almost spell the end for CSKA in this years Champions League as we don’t see them getting anywhere near Sevilla in the return leg in Spain two weeks later. With this in mind, CSKA know they have to get a result at home, preferably in the form of a win as a draw would be far from ideal, especially a scoring one. It’s expected to be a bitter, cold evening in Moscow and so the conditions should very well favour the home side rather than their sun-blessed Spanish opponents, although this is probably the only factor favouring the Moscow side in what does look a one-sided affair on paper.

CSKA Moscow coach, Juande Ramos, enjoyed plenty of success at Sevilla, with a final success in the UEFA Cup the highlight in his tenure at the Spanish club and he will duly receive a warm welcome in the return leg. However, sentiments go out the window for now as he desperately needs to plot a stroke of genius if his CSKA side are to overcome the might of Sevilla. The advantage, though, is that Ramos will know plenty about his former club; from Sevilla’s usual use of tactics to each players abilities and weaknesses. However, will all this useful information be enough to bridge the apparent gulf in class between the two sides?

CSKA Moscow, while they will have home advantage, haven’t kept a clean sheet at the Luzhniki stadium in this seasons competition to date, conceding one goal in all three of their group fixtures in Russia. The big positive is that they don’t concede an awful lot but, by the same token, they’ve still struggled to keep even some of this seasons average European teams at bay for the full 90 minutes, with both Wolfsburg & Beskitas scoring in Moscow. This is a huge concern ahead of their first leg tie with a Sevilla side notorious for the striking prowess in the final third of the pitch.

Sevilla

Champions League Odds: 28/1 bWin

Sevilla are our outside punt for this seasons Champions League crown as they looked superb at times during the group stages, with their only defeat thus far coming in Romania when losing 1-0 to Unirea Urziceni at a time when Sevilla were already through to the knock-out stages. They play attractive football, with plenty of attacking endeavour, and they are a team with bags of potential and do possess the ability in numbers to spring a surprise on their day, although, in reality this two-legged tie with CSKA should be a walk in the park compared to what’s to come later on. Providing they qualify that is. 

With the exception of the two ‘Glamour’ teams in Spain, Sevilla are arguably the best of the rest and have shown this on plenty of occasions this season, even managing victories over Real Madrid Barcelona back in Spain. However, they are now way near as consistent as the top two sides in Spain, and despite possessing this dangerous aurora about them, their inconsistent nature does make them a precarious bet, although we still feel they could be a decent little bet to make some real in-roads providing they turn up the heat on the big boys when asked to.

With regards to this first leg encounter in Moscow, Sevilla could struggle to adapt to the cold Russian surroundings as they won’t be familiar with the typically awkward conditions around Russia. That, with perhaps their inconsistent tendency, is the only factor that just might affect their chances of bypassing this Moscow test. They have the inventory to dispatch of CSKA, with the likes of Jesus Navas and Diego Capal down the wings, two of the brighter talents in the Sevilla set up, while they have two experienced professional up front in Luis Fabiano & Frederic Kanoute. The former will pose the biggest threat for Sevilla when going forward as his pace and witty ball skills makes him a difficult player to mark and defend against. They also have a player by the name of Negredo, whom has scored seven league goals in La Liga, and he too will pose yet more danger for the Russian side.

Sevilla have the talent in depth to handle this CSKA Moscow test but the conditions is a concern and perhaps a leveller. Also, Sevilla do have this consistent nature about them where every now again they just don’t turn up and perform the theur usually high standard. On their day they can play fast, free-flowing football, breaking from defence in a considerable rate of knots. The type of football which is extremely difficult to defend against. Then there’s the sloppy Seville which concede silly yet costly goals. On the whole, in the Champions League anyway, they have been very consistent and have been one of the more entertaining sides to watch, scoring eleven goals in six games. Interestingly, though, seven of those did come away from Spain so perhaps their quick counter-attacking style could pave the way for a big first leg lead.

Match verdict: Sevilla to WIN – 2.50 Bet365

In reality, CSKA must take a lead over to Spain with them in order to stand any chance of progressing. We have no doubt they will show plenty of endeavour and effort but whether that will equate into goals in either leg is another question. However, with CSKA looking to attack at every opportunity, probably with numbers, this game looks ideally set up for a big Sevilla victory as their quick breakaways could be too much for CSKA to handle. Sevilla break out from defence at an alarming rate and they will cause CSKA all sorts of problems at the back, that’s if the CSKA defenders can get back in time. CSKA desperately need a first leg win, but our vote of confidence goes the way of the away side as Sevilla look to cement their claims of a quarter-final place with victory in Russia.

SoccerBetting Tip: Sevilla to score 2 or more goals – 2.62 PaddyPower

Seville really do pack-a-punch when on the front foot and it’s hard to see their illustrious strike force not scoring at least once in Moscow. We, though, fancy them to get on the score sheet a couple of times as their counter-attacking style could unlock a Moscow defence which not be as organised due to CSKA’s intent to attack in order to score a few goals whilst home advantage is still on their side. If Sevilla are quick and slick on the break and remain composed in the pivotal moments then we can easily envisage them bagging a few in Moscow. Negredo, Kanoute & Fabiano could score any numbers of goals when in top form.

Match Odds:

CSKA Moscow – 2.95 Expekt

Draw – 3.25 Boylesports

Sevilla – 2.50 Bet365