Whilst both of these sides have the exact same amount of points so far this season (4) and are only separated in the table by goal difference, you would say that Ural have made a good start whilst CSKA have made a bad start.
Ural used an interesting tactical plan by deploying wing-backs against Ufa in their first game. This tactic paid dividends as they ran out 2-0 winners against their former manager, Victor Goncharenko. Although it was an impressive victory for Vadim Skripchenko’s side, people were sceptical as it was only against Ufa – a team tipped to be fighting it out at the bottom this season. However, they then went to Rostov, a team notoriously good at home, and managed to secure a 0-0 draw. These two results will have given a massive confidence boost to the Ekaterinburg side as they go into this home match against last season’s RPL champions CSKA. The Uraltsy will feel they have a chance of picking up yet another positive result.
Leonid Slutsky’s CSKA have suffered an indifferent start to the season. They could only manage a 0-0 draw away at Anzhi Makhachkala before squeezing passed newly-promoted Orenburg 1-0. All of this points to one problem – lack of strikers. This impotence up front must be sorted quickly by the Army Men or it could be a long campaign for them. Of course this problem has not been resolved in time for their match against Ural.
It feels strange but I would not be confident in backing CSKA here, they just do not seem to have enough going forward. However, I am not sure how brave Ural will be in taking the game to last season’s champions so with this in mind I have gone with a draw at 11/4.
See more tips from Thomas here.