The Matchday 22 fixture in the MIR Russian Premier League between CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Makhachkala will take place on 21 March at the VEB Arena in Moscow. CSKA Moscow vs Dinamo Makhachkala: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
CSKA Moscow Form
The Moscow club lost away to Baltika last time out (0:1). That was the fourth straight defeat for the home side in the league, and CSKA Moscow have not endured a run this bad since 2001. The team also have the second-longest streak of matches conceding, while the hosts have now failed to score for the sixth time this season. Such results could not help but affect the players’ state: in the match against the Kaliningrad side, the club equalled its worst figure for yellow cards – 4 (1.9 on average). In the standings, CSKA Moscow have dropped to fifth.
- At least one team failed to score in 8 of the last 10 matches involving the home side in the Russian Premier League.
- At home, the team have won 5 of their last 6 league games (1 defeat).
- In 14 of the last 16 home matches in the Premier League, the hosts have not conceded more than one goal.
Potential CSKA Moscow Lineup (4-3-3)
Igor Akinfeev – Joao Victor, Milan Gajic, Mateus Reis, Matvey Lukin – Ivan Oblyakov, Dmitry Barinov, Matvey Kislyak – Danil Krugovoy, Danila Kozlov, Luciano Gondou.
Forward Kirill Glebov is suspended. Defender Moises Barbosa has been barred from training with the first team.
Dinamo Makhachkala Form
Dinamo Makhachkala beat Orenburg at home in the previous round (1:0). It was only the club’s second win in their last seven league matches (1 draw, 4 defeats), and both victories in that spell came on home soil. As for away form, Dinamo Makhachkala are the league’s worst side on the road. It is also worth noting that the team ended a three-match run of conceding goals, while they have scored only for the second time in their last seven Russian Premier League games. Those three points lifted the home team out of the relegation play-off zone, although the gap to it is only one point.
- At least one team failed to score in 6 of the last 8 matches involving Dinamo Makhachkala in the Premier League.
- Away from home, the team have lost 6 of their last 8 league games (2 draws).
- In 7 of their last 8 away matches in this tournament, the club failed to score.
Potential Dinamo Makhachkala Lineup (4-5-1)
David Volk – Andres Alarcon, Mohamed Azzi, Yan Djapo, Jemal Tabidze – Nikita Glushkov, Mehdi El-Mubarik, Ussem Mrezig, Temirkan Sundukov, Mohammad Hosseinnejad – Gamid Agalarov.
Defenders Idar Shumakhov and Mutalip Alibekov are injured.
CSKA Moscow vs Dinamo Makhachkala: Match Prediction
CSKA Moscow, who looked excellent in pre-season, have made a mess of the restart. Fabio Celestini’s side have lost four in a row, something that had not happened to the club for more than 20 years. Certainly, some of the Moscow side’s opponents were of a high level, but even so, the home team could have looked better. The only bright spot was the cup match against Krasnodar, but the return leg against the southern club on Tuesday turned into a nightmare for the players – a 0:4 defeat, compounded by two red cards. Something is clearly not right inside the squad. A survival-battling opponent looks like a good opportunity to put things right, but it will not be straightforward against the visitors.
Dinamo Makhachkala will face CSKA Moscow for the fourth time this season. In the first meeting in the league, the hosts were stronger thanks to a solitary goal, while in the Russian Cup the teams traded narrow wins by the minimum margin. Since the winter break, Vadim Evseev’s side have won three of four official matches (1 defeat) and have shown solid defending. Across those four games, the club have allowed their opponents to create only 11 big chances, while the home side’s figure over the same period stands at 30.
We would not be surprised if the visitors manage to take points, but we suggest playing it safe with a positive handicap.
Prediction: Dinamo Makhachkala (+1.5)
