FK Rostov Vs CSKA Moscow
Monday, 9 March 2020 – 11:00 GMT Kick-Off
Russian Premier League
Pick: Both Teams To Score
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Ladbrokes
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 6 March 2020 at 00:00 GMT)
Preview: Third hosts fourth in Russia’s Premier League on Monday, as the race for a spot in next season’s Champions League takes centre stage at the Rostov Arena for a clash between FK Rostov and CSKA Moscow.
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Table of Contents
FK Rostov Preview – Grip on third place loosening?
Since returning to Russia’s Premier League in 2009, the club has only ever finished inside the Champions League places on one occasion, when a close runner-up behind CSKA Moscow in the 2015-16 season. So these are exciting times at FK Rostov (3rd – W10 D5 L5) who, with a third of their allotted league games still to play, are already closing in on the 41-point haul managed throughout the whole of the previous campaign.
In fact, were the season to end right now, the qualifying rounds of next season’s Champions League would await for Valeri Karpin’s side. Unfortunately for them there is still a lot that can happen in the meantime, beginning with Monday’s crunch encounter at home to a CSKA Moscow outfit who can boast the same number of points at this stage (35) as they do, but trail by virtue of the head-to-head rule.
Rostov were 3-1 victors when the teams clashed in Moscow back in October. Their form has deteriorated ever since, however, with last week’s 1-1 draw at Akhmat Grozny making it two wins from the last eight Premier League games (W2 D3 L3). Meanwhile they have taken a solitary point from the last two home games, after a 2-1 loss to FC Tambov and a goalless stalemate with Ural, having previously won seven of their first eight home fixtures.
CSKA Moscow Preview – Where will the goals come from?
Considered by some as the most likely side to push defending champions Zenit St Petersburg close this season, it would seem a seventh Premier League title will elude CSKA Moscow (4th – W10 D5 L5). The Russian giants are, arguably, the most iconic club in the country but, unless they can claw back an eleven point deficit on the runaway leaders, are coming to terms with the prospect of a fourth consecutive campaign in which they don’t finish top of the pile.
More importantly, a return to the Champions League – and with it all the riches that it bestows – is far from guaranteed. Especially if results continue along the same trend which has seen them record only two wins – both coming against the league’s bottom teams, PFC Sochi (2-3) and Krylya Sovetov (1-0) – across their last nine league matches (W2 D4 L3). A 1-1 draw at home with Ural last Saturday made it no win in three (D2 L1).
It doesn’t require much detective work to pinpoint where a lot of their problems stem from, particularly more recently. Goals have been a huge issue, scoring no more than once in eight of the last nine games. Yet they’ve somehow netted at least once in all nine previous away outings, avoiding defeat in the last seven (W4 D3). Meanwhile, a bet on 1-1 could prove to be shrewd – three of their last four away encounters have finished that way.
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FK Rostov Vs CSKA Moscow Betting Advice
Three points would go along way to achieving Champions League football next season for these two teams. FK Rostov have already beaten CSKA Moscow once this season, winning 3-1 in Moscow, but approach this home encounter as slight underdogs despite winning six of their nine matches on home soil so far (W6 D2 L1). CSKA, though, haven’t lost in seven away games but have drawn three of the most recent four 1-1, as well as winning just two of the last nine league games overall (W2 D4 L3).
Rostov Vs CSKA Moscow – Key Facts
- Having won six of their first seven matches at home (W6 D1), Rostov have since failed to win either of their last two league contests at the Rostov Arena (D1 L1).
- Away from home CSKA Moscow have scored in nine straight league games and haven’t suffered a defeat in any of the most recent seven (W4 D3).
- No player has scored more Premier League goals in 2019-20 than Rostov striker Eldor Shomurodov, whose 11 strikes puts him level with Zenit’s Artem Dzyuba.
Goals have plagued CSKA more recently, though the Moscow giants have netted in nine straight away matches with the last four delivering goals for both teams. Meanwhile, only leaders Zenit have netted more goals since the start of the season than Rostov (35 in 20 games), netting in all but one of their nine league encounters at home. Furthermore, both sides begun the post-winter break with 1-1 draws. Over 2.5 Goals looks big at 29/20 (MarathonBet).
Best Betting Odds for FK Rostov Vs CSKA Moscow
FK Rostov – 9/5 (Betfair)
Draw – 11/5 (Bet365)
CSKA Moscow – 17/10 (Betway)
