The Moscow derby takes place on Sunday afternoon, with both table-topping Lokomotiv looking to get one over on their fierce rivals CSKA. With the duo both still battling it out for the title in Russia, it is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated matches of the season, with a whole host of international players set to take to the field at the Lokomotiv Stadium.
Russian Premier League – Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow – Sunday 5th November – 13:30 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 2 at Ladbrokes |
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Lokomotiv-Moscow
CSKA MoscowMatch Preview
Having produced one the performance of the season so far to defeat rivals Zenit St. Petersburg by three goals to nil, Lokomotiv Moscow can take another significant step towards the title by defeating CSKA this weekend. With the home side undoubtedly being the in-form team in the Russian top-flight, it is little wonder that it is Lokomotiv who are the favourites for three points. However, with the Moscow derby always tricky to predict, it could well be a close encounter at the Lokomotiv Stadium. For those looking to back their favourite with a bet before kick-off, check out our predictions below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Lokomotiv Moscow Team News & Form
Having finished eighth in the Russian Premier League last season, Lokomotiv have been difficult to stop this time around, winning ten of their 15 fixtures to date. Head Coach Yuri Semin has seen his side completely transform themselves, with the likes of Jefferson Farfan, Vedran Corluka and Manuel Fernandes having been among the star performers. As the joint top-scorers in the division, Lokomotiv are certain to test the CSKA backline constantly on Sunday, with Aleksey Miranchuk having six goals to his name already this season. Another win for the home side would put them 10 points ahead of CSKA, which is probably an unassailable lead at this stage of the campaign.
CSKA Moscow Team News & Form
CSKA Moscow manager Viktor Goncharenko has an extremely difficult week to prepare for, with away a Champions League encounter with Basel being followed by their clash with Lokomotiv. Just one win in five has seen CSKA lose track of both Lokomotiv and Zenit at the top of the standings, making this weekend’s game a crucial one. However, with CSKA averaging just one goal a game in the Russian top-flight, the pressure is on the likes of Vitinho and Aleksandr Golovin to start delivering in the final third.
Head to Head
The two teams have met on 28 occasions in the past, with CSKA Moscow having won 14 of those contests. However, with Lokomotiv having already won 3-1 against CSKA at the VEB Arena earlier this season, it is little wonder that many are predicting them to once again get the better of their rivals.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Given their recent performances and their position at the top of the table, it comes as little surprise that it is Lokomotiv Moscow who are the favourites for victory with the majority of bookmakers. They can be backed at best odds of 13/8 with Ladbrokes, while the same bookmakers offer the visitors odds of 13/8 to claim all three points.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on there being over 2.5 goals during the 90 minutes in Moscow, which can be found at best odds of 19/20 at William Hill.