CSKA Moscow VS Basel Match Prediction

  • Logo2017-10-18
  • Logo18:45:00
CSKA Moscow
VS
Basel

Our Prediction Tip

Basel will win this match.

FC Basel and CSKA Moscow will play their first match against one another in this Group A fixture.     

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CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

CSKA Moscow is at 10/11 to win, a draw is at 5/2, and an FC Basel win is at 3/1.

This is a bit of a surprise if you go by the form book, but the bookmakers take much more than that into account and feel as if Basel will struggle when they leave the friendly confines of Switzerland in order to travel to Russia.

CSKA didn't look so hot there last time out against Manchester United, but that isn't the end of the world when you realize United have been in great form.  But it's their overall form that is worrying at the current time for them, and they falling a little off the pace in the Russian Premier League as a result of that.  They must get a win here, you'd think, if they have any shot at qualification.  After their biggest UCL loss at home ever, they will surely play better here.

Basel set their own record last time out with a crushing 5-0 demolition job against Benfica.  The Portuguese side might have been poor, but the Swiss took advantage and hammered them.  When will it end where they are overlooked by everyone?  They will never be the richest or have the greatest players, but they almost always come good to shock someone.  This would be far from a shock if they got a result- or even a win- here.

Basel +1 is at 10/11.

CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel Prediction

FC Basel travels to Moscow and comes out with all three points from a tough battle.  

Correct Score Prediction: CSKA Moscow 1-2 FC Basel 

 

Team News

Viktor Goncharenko continues to miss key midfielder Alan Dzagoev due to his Achilles tendon issue.  Meanwhile, winger Aleksandr Makarov is out with an ankle problem.  Center midfielder Konstantin Kuchaev left the match on Saturday early, so is a big doubt for this one.  

Key Man

It's going to be a tough task for CSKA here in this match as they try to bounce back from a tough home defeat last time out.  And despite getting two clean sheets in qualification, goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev still has yet to record one in the group stages or beyond in over ten years.  This match is one in which he needs to showcase that kind of touch if they are to find a way to win, as Basel are capable of grinding out a result.  

Team Form

CSKA have a win, two draws, and two losses in their last five matches:

0-1 win at Krasnodar
0-0 home draw vs Ufa
1-4 home loss vs Manchester United (UCL)
0-0 draw at Dinamo Moscow
1-0 extra time loss vs Avangard Kursk (Cup)

CSKA Moscow Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-5-2

CSKA Moscow likely XI

  • Goalkeeper:Akinfeev

  • Defenders:Nababkin, Aleksey Berezutski, Ignashevich

  • Midfielders:Fernandes, Milanov, Natcho, Khosonov, Schennikov

  • Forwards:Olanare, Vitinho

Team News

Raphael Wicky saw two more worries added to his list at the weekend.  Goalkeeper Germano Vailati has picked up an injury, while center back Pedro Pacheco took ill and may or may not be fit to play a role in this one.  Center back Eder Balanta and stiker Ricky van Wolfswinkel remain out with injury issues.  

Key Man

With the enigmatic and ocassionally brilliant van Wolfswinkel out, Basel were forced to turn to other options at the weekend.  They did that to great effect as Norway international Mohamed Elyounoussi engineered a great performance.  The 23 year old scored a goal and assisted another, and he should be in line to start in Moscow in a bid to upset the odds a little and grab a big result far from home.  

Team Form

Basel have three wins, a draw, and a loss in their last five matches:

0-4 win at Lugano
0-0 draw at Grasshopper
5-0 home win vs Benfica (UCL)
1-0 home win vs Zurich
2-1 loss at St. Gallen

Basel Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-4-3

FC Basel likely XI

  • Goalkeeper:Vaclik

  • Defenders:Suchy, Akanji, Serey Die

  • Midfielders:Lang, Suffi, Xhaka, Petretta

  • Forwards:Steffen, Elyounoussi, Ajeti

There is a big chance that one of these two teams will be able to move in the knockout rounds. Benfica's start has been so far poor, and they have two matches against United, so they could be out of the running by the time they meet these two teams. That gives a tremendous chance to both of these sides, and a result is very much a necessity for each in this match to build that gap out a little. Basel are the underdogs, but we like them to grab a point.
Basel got their biggest UEFA win ever last time out, while CSKA suffered their worst home defeat.