The first leg of the 2025/26 FONBET Russian Cup RPL Path semi-final between CSKA Moscow and Krasnodar will take place on 4 March at the VEB Arena in Moscow. CSKA Moscow vs Krasnodar: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
CSKA Moscow
The Army Men had a tough tie against the Makhachkala side in the previous round. After losing the first leg (0:1), Fabio Celestini's men only managed to snatch victory in the return match thanks to a stoppage-time goal, before the team proved more accurate in the penalty shootout (2:1, pens 5:4). The defeat to Dynamo is CSKA Moscow's only loss in their last 10 Russian Cup matches (5 wins, 3 draws). However, it is worth noting that in the current tournament the capital club have kept a clean sheet in only two of eight matches.
- No more than three goals were scored in 26 of the last 27 Moscow side's matches in the Russian Cup.
- At home in this tournament, the Moscow side have not lost after 90 minutes for 15 matches (10 wins, 5 draws).
- In six of their previous seven home games in the national cup, CSKA Moscow scored at least twice.
Potential CSKA Moscow Lineup (4-3-3)*
Igor Akinfeev – Joao Victor, Milan Gajic, Mateus Reis, Kirill Danilov – Danil Krugovoy, Dmitry Barinov, Matvey Kislyak – Danila Kozlov, Kirill Glebov, Luciano Gondou.
Midfielder Dmitry Barinov is suspended.
Krasnodar
For Murad Musaev's men, the previous round turned into a walk in the park. Krasnodar beat Orenburg in both legs (3:1, 4:0). As a result, the team have won in normal time in six of their last seven Russian Cup matches (one draw). In addition, the club kept a clean sheet in four games during that spell. At the other end, Krasnodar have been very proactive: in only one of their previous six matches in this tournament did they score fewer than two goals. It is worth recalling that in last season's national cup, the team failed to get past the first spring stage.
- At least three goals were scored in 11 of Krasnodar's previous 12 Russian Cup matches.
- Away from home, the club are unbeaten in five matches in this tournament (four wins and one draw in normal time).
- The team conceded in six of their last seven away games in the national cup.
Potential Krasnodar Lineup (4-5-1)*
Stanislav Agkatsev – Giovanni Gonzalez, Vitor Tormena, Diego Costa, Lucas Olasa – Eduard Spertsyan, Joao Batchi, Douglas Augusto, Aleksandr Chernikov, Victor Sa – John Cordoba.
Defender Sergey Petrov is injured. Midfielder Nikita Krivtsov is suspended.
Referee
Aleksey Sukhoy (Russia)
Matches – 9 (Russian Cup, 2023/24–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 35;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 33%.
CSKA Moscow vs Krasnodar: Match Prediction
The head-to-head meetings between these sides this season have been full of emotion and goals. In the first Premier League meeting, the opponents traded goals in Moscow, with Cordoba also sent off. In the second game, Krasnodar came out on top (3:2), while Moyzes Barbosa saw red. The same defender also failed to last the full match in the Winline Winter Cup clash, which ended 2:2 in normal time. We are confident the players on both teams have not had time to cool down, which means it will be fiery again. It is worth noting that there was a VAR review in every match in the latest round, and in such a potentially emotional pairing there may be decisions capable of affecting the scoring.
Even without any additional factors, the opponents should be able to score against each other. In five of their last seven Russian Cup matches, Krasnodar scored at least three times. As for CSKA Moscow, they have had two goalless matches in the current tournament, but both were away from home. At their own ground, the home team have scored in 15 straight matches in the national cup. However, in all home games this season the club conceded.
Prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
* For each team, the starting line-up is from their previous match.
