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Anzhi Makhachkala and reigning champions CSKA Moscow will square off in the Russian Premier League first round.
Anzhi survived a promotion / relegation playoff last season to remain in the Premier League and the team seems to be stronger this year, as they brought in a number of fairly decent signings. The hosts will hope to have an easier time in avoiding relegation this season, but they are definitely expected to finish in the bottom half of the standings yet again.
Leonid Slutsky returned as full time manager for CSKA after he was also coach of the National team for the past year, but the visitors did not show much in the first official match of the season. CSKA lost the Russian Supercup against Zenit, 0-1, and were unable to create much danger on the offensive end. With Doumbia and top scorer Musa gone, CSKA badly lacks talent up front and this was obvious as day against Zenit.
Place your bets on Anzhi vs CSKA Moscow with the highest odds at 1xBet.com now!
Team news & lineups:
Maksimov, Ebecilio, Khadartsev, Karetnik and Mohammed are out for Anzhi, while Mensah and Maevski are questionable. CSKA Moscow can’t count on Cauna.
Anzhi Makhachkala: Belenov – Musalov, Gadzhibekov, Lazic, Tigiev – Mkrtchyan, Maevski – Moutari, Georgievsky, Berisha – Budkivsky
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev – Fernandes, Berezutski, Ignashevich, Nababkin – Wernbloom, Natkho – Ionov, Eremenko, Tosic – Traore
CSKA looked really bad in attack against Zenit and that wasn`t a huge surprise. The team lacks options up front with new signing Lacina Traore being the only striker they can count on and he is far from a goalscoring machine – posting just 25 league appearances and 4 goals in his last two years with AS Monaco and Everton. Carlos Strandberg just returned from his loan with AIK to be a backup for Traore, but it`s unclear if he will feature today.
This looks like a match in which CSKA will patiently pass the ball around trying to create something, but their lack of offensive power might make it difficult for them to score. With this being the first match of the season and the teams set to be a bit tentative and uncohesive in their league opener, a bet against goals looks like a logical option. It`s also worth noting that Anzhi isn`t a great offensive side, scoring less than 1 goal per game in average last season.
My tip is under 2,5 goals to be scored. Prediction: Anzhi Makhachkala – CSKA Moscow 0-0.
Pick: under 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.81 @ 1xBet
Stake: 7
Possible profit: 5.67
Event date: 30 July
