CSKA Moscow v Zenit Betting Tips

Although the Russian league season has already got underway at the lower levels, the Supercup is the curtain raiser for the 2016/17 season and sees league champions CSKA Moscow take on cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg.

CSKA managed to hold off the challenge of surprise package FC Rostov to clinch the Russian Premier League title on the last day of the 2015/16 season and start this match as favourites. However, their squad has had a bit of an overhaul in recent weeks with the departure of influential attacker Ahmed Musa to English champions Leicester City with the loan duo of Lacina Traore and Aleksi Ionov arriving in the Nigerian’s place.

Both of these new players have experience in the Russian Premier League with Traore having previously played for Kuban Krasnodar before journeying around England and France whilst Ionov arrives on loan from chaos-ridden and recently relegated Dinamo Moscow. It will be interesting to see how long this pair take to gel.

Leonid Slutsky’s side have scored in each of their pre-season friendlies, however, these matches against lowly Russian sides have not provided a stern test for the Army club. Their ageing defence is of course a natural concern for them.

Zenit St. Petersburg had a woeful domestic campaign last season. Although they won the cup, they failed to qualify for the Champions League – on which their entire financial model is based.

Like CSKA, this summer has seen an overhaul of Zenit. Hulk has secured a big-money move to China whilst midfielder Axel Witsel and defender Nicolas Lombaerts are sprinting towards the exit door. However, popular local hero Aleksandr Kerzhakov has arrived back at the clubafter Andre Villas Boas sent him into exile last season.

AVB has now left Zenit and in his place has come former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu. Whilst many were expecting a bigger name to take the ropes at Zenit, lack of Champions League football next season meant they had to go to a B-list of candidates. However, Lucescu did exceptionally well at Shakhtar during his time there and has a reputation of bringing in young players, typically Brazilians, and selling them on for a huge profit.

Pre-season has been a good workout for Zenit and, having secured good wins over strong sides such as Basel and Sporting Lisbon, they have looked to be in form. However, the defence is still a concern with their backline looking increasingly vulnerable.

I am not sure CSKA will be able to change gear from playing the likes of mediocre Russian teams to a strong-looking Zenit side. The bookies make the Muscovites favourites for this match but I am not convinced. In terms of bets I fancy ‘Zenit To Lift The Trophy‘ at Evens with Paddy Power. This seems good value for a bet which would give you a decent return if Zenit win the cup in extra time or on penalties.

Perhaps a slightly riskier bet I would go for is ‘Zenit To Win & Both Teams To Score’. As previously mentioned, Zenit look good going forward but CSKA are bound to have chances against this sieve-like defence. Adding Zenit to win to this bet just adds a little bit more value at 5/1 with Bet 365.

See all of today’s tips here.