Spanish side Celta Vigo snatched a last-minute winner to clinch a 2-1 victory in the first leg of this Europa League tie, however, Krasnodar still managed to score a vital away goal.
Krasnodar may have conceded that second goal in the dying moments of the first match but will still be fairly pleased with the result which probably makes them favourites to go through in Krasnodar. Since that loss to the Spaniards, the Bulls secured a 2-1 victory of their own away at Lokomotiv Moscow in the league at the weekend, boosting them up to 4th in the table and just four points off the Champions League qualification spots.
Igor Shalimov’s men are one of the more attacking sides in the Russian Premier League and have scored the third-most in the league with 28 in 19 (may not sound impressive but bear in mind that this league is very low-scoring). Krasnodar will once again be without talismanic forward Fedor Smolov for the second leg but they have proved recently that they are more than a one man team.
Defensively Krasnodar have conceded fewer than they have played this season but are still way down the table in the defensive stats (low-scoring league). Additionally, they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last five matches.
If the Bulls were as good as they are at home on the road then they would more than likely be challenging right at the top of the Russian Premier League. Krasnodar’s home form has been vital to their recent success and they have lost just once in the league and in the Europa League on home soil so far this campaign. Their last defeat at home in all competitions came all the way back in late October.
Celta will be very thankful that they scored that winner in the first leg as it gives them something to hold on to in Russia on Thursday. However, they were unable to follow up this victory in La Liga as they lost 1-0 to Villarreal last time out.
As mentioned in my write-up for the first leg, Eduardo Berizzo’s side are a side who are focused on going forward and they have found the back of the net an impressive 39 times in 26 La Liga matches this season. However, this does mean they are often left open at the back and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last five games.
The Celts’ have been pretty woeful on their travels this season, accumulating just 10 points in 13 league matches whilst they have also won just once in their last five games away from Estadio de Balaidos.
Krasnodar’s away goal is key going into this match and, given their fantastic home form and Celta’s rather indifferent away form, plus the fact that travelling to Russia is never easy anyway, the Bulls should come out on top here. 6/4 on the home win is an excellent price.
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