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English giants Manchester United travel to Moscow for their group stage encounter against CSKA Moskva on Wednesday on matchday three in the UEFA Champions League. The Red Devils are making their appearance in the Champions League after a year’s absence and face a potentially tricky tie at the Arena Khimki in Moscow. The Group B rivals will both be aiming to build on valuable matchday two victories when they meet in Moscow
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Manchester United came back from a goal down to beat German club Wolfsburg whereas CSKA Moskva beat Dutch side PSV Eindhoven 3-2 at home on matchday two. Group B sees all its occupants on three points and identical goal differences(0) as all the four sides have won and lost a game so far.
Kick Off
Channel: Ten Sports
Live Stream: http://www.tensports.com/live
Date and Time: Thursday, 22nd October 2015 – 00:15 am IST
Venue: Arena Khimki, Moscow
Team News
CSKA Moskva
The Russian side who are at the top of the Russian league do not have any major injury concerns with the sole exception of Israeli midfielder Natcho, who is out with a concussion.
Manchester United
The 18 players who completed a convincing 3-0 demolition of Everton on Saturday all boarded the flight to the Russian capital, where they'll face freezing conditions on Wednesday evening. The United manager has decided to add two extra players, Antonio Valencia and goalkeeper Sergio Romero, to the 18-man squad which travelled to Merseyside last weekend as a precaution.
They are still without Ashley Young, who has a calf injury while Paddy McNair is still out after suffering a ruptured liver and James Wilson has a bug. Luke Shaw is a long-term absentee after he suffered an injury against PSV in their first Group B match.
Form
CSKA Moskva
The Russian outfit have been in great form in their domestic campaign sitting at the top of the league with 32 points from 12 games and are unbeaten at home so far. CSKA Moscow are five points clear at the top after their 3-2 win over mid-table FC Ural on Saturday.
They are yet to suffer defeat in their domestic league so far this season and got back to winning ways in the Champions League with a 3-2 win over PSV Eindhoven at the Arena Khimki after opening their campaign with a 1-0 away defeat to Wolfsburg.
“United are a top club regardless, and whoever plays for them will be very strong. We are only bothered about the result of this match and not how many balls [goalkeeper Igor] Akinfeev fails to catch. If it ends up 10-9 to us, that will be fine. We have a team with plenty of experience. We have played a lot of games against big clubs – some have gone well, some a little worse – so we're ready,” said CSKA manager Leonid Slutski.
Last 5 games: WWWDW(Most Recent CSKA Moskva 3-2 FC Ural)
Manchester United
Manchester United have impressed in the Premier League and sit in third place in the table. They bounced back from a 3-0 drubbing to rivals Arsenal with a convincing 3-0 away victory of their own last weekend. Like CSKA they overturned a losing start to the Champions League campaign over PSV Eindhoven as they beat Wolfsburg at home last time around.
Wayne Rooney scored in the match against Everton which could spark a scoring spree for the captain.
United have lost three of their last five away games in all competitions. Going further back, they have won just nine of last 26 Premier League games on the road.
“For me, as a manager, the next match is the most important match. I don't think about Manchester City [on Sunday]. I only think about CSKA Moskva and I have to focus on this match I demand that also from my players. We have already lost one game against PSV away and we want to gain one point at least. That is why it is a very important match for us.” Manchester United manager Loius van Gaal.
Last 5 games: WLWWW (Most Recent: Everton 0-3 Manchester United)
Key Stats
- CSKA and Manchester Utd's only previous meeting was in the 2009/10 group stages of the Champions League. The Red Devils won 1-0 in Moscow before a 3-3 stalemate at Old Trafford.
- CSKA have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 18 Champions League games. The last time they did was in November 2011 (0-0 v Trabzonspor).
- CSKA's last five Champions League games against English sides have produced 23 goals, an average of 4.6 per game.
- United's run of four successive wins ended when they lost 3-0 to Arsenal FC on 4 October.
- Anthony Martial, after scoring three goals in four appearances, was named Premier League player of the month for September on 16 October.
Probable lineups:
CSKA Moskva: Akinfeev Fernandes, V Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov; Wernbloom, TošiÄÂÂÂÂÂ?, Eremenko, Dzagoev; Musa, Doumbia.
Manchester United: De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Phil Jones, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Herrera, Martial, Rooney.
Prediction
CSKA Moskva 1-3 Manchester United
CSKA Moskva are a tricky proposition at home and are unbeaten at home this season in all competition but Manchester United will be buoyed by their impressive display at the weekend. The quality possessed by the Red Devils will be a little too much for the Russian League leaders to overcome.
