CSKA Moscow vs Tottenham: Champions League Preview & Prediction

Tottenham travel to Russia knowing that a win is needed if they are likely to finish top of Group E.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side face CSKA Moscow after losing their opening group match to AS Monaco at Wembley Stadium.

However, Spurs’ Premier League form has been impressive this season. Since their last Champions League outing, Tottenham have recorded Premier League wins over Sunderland and Middlesbrough respectively.

Should the North London club fail to pick up three points in the Russian capital, history is against them to progress to the latter stages of the European competition. Only ten teams, including rivals Arsenal last year, have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League having been defeated in their opening two matches.

The side that faced a confident Monaco team at Wembley less than two weeks ago were short of Champions League experience. Only five of those that started in that loss have featured in European football’s leading club competition before, with one of those being goalscorer Toby Alderweireld – who picked up a runners-up medal after featuring in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid back in 2014.

But the defeat to Monaco may work as a wake-up call for Pochettino’s side, who will be without star striker Harry Kane after he damaged ankle ligaments in the win over Sunderland.

CSKA Moscow, meanwhile, go into the clash after securing a creditable draw in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen.

Leonid Slutsky, who also took charge of Russia’s unsuccessful European Championships campaign in France, has formed an exciting team and CSKA have made a good start to their Russian Premier League campaign.

CSKA are only one point behind arch-rivals Spartak Moscow and are currently second in the Russian Premier League after winning five of their opening eight games. Slutsky’s side have followed up their title-winning season with an unbeaten start to the 2016/17 campaign.

Pochettino’s side lost out to AS Monaco in their Champions League opener earlier this month – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Team News:

Kane, who finished last season as the Premier League top goalscorer, will miss the trip to Russia after damaging his ankle ligaments in the 1-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

As a result, £17m summer signing Vincent Janssen is likely to start for Spurs. The former AZ Alkmaar striker registered his first goal in Spurs colours in the 5-0 League Cup win over Gillingham last week.

The North Londoners will also be missing left-back Danny Rose and central midfielders Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele due to hamstring injuries.

Deadline day signing Moussa Sissoko will not feature after suffering concussion in the win over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The home side, meanwhile, have a fully fit squad to select from.

League Positions: CSKA Moscow – 2nd (1 pt); Tottenham – 4th (0 pts)
Last Meeting: This is the first competitive meeting between CSKA Moscow and Tottenham
Form: CSKA Moscow – DWWDWD; Tottenham – DWLWWW
Key Men: CSKA Moscow – Alan Dzagoev; Tottenham – Christian Eriksen
SHOOT Says: CSKA Moscow 1-2 Tottenham