CSKA in the Champions League. The new reality of CSKA. Prospects for the season
Football matches of CSKA in 2018 will be hot! The army club will have to fight for medals in the Russian championship and try their luck in the playoffs of the UEFA Europa League. Especially important for red-blue CR. Getting into the top three guarantees participation in the 2018/19 Champions League for FC Yevgeny Giner. The Champions League is solid money, which will be very useful for Muscovites who are experiencing serious financial difficulties. However, the position of the “stable” in the RFPL championship is not easy. Wards of Viktor Goncharenko need to work hard to succeed!
Schedule of matches of CSKA in the season 2017 - 2018
The first half of the football season turned out to be ambiguous for the red-blue. The capital's players heroically made it to the group stage of the Champions League, but, despite a number of successes, failed to reach the playoffs of the tournament.
In the RFPL championship, the wards of the Belarusian coach did not fail, but they did not become the leaders of the standings either. FC is in 5th place.
The second part of the season will give the red-blues the opportunity to improve their business in the Czech Republic and try to succeed in the Europa League. The calendar of PFC CSKA matches in 2018 looks like this:
- 02/13/2018: Red Star - CSKA (1/16 LE);
- 02/21/2018: CSKA - Red Star (1/16 LE);
- 03/03/2018: CSKA - Ural;
- 03/11/2018: Akhmat - CSKA;
- 03/18/2018: CSKA - Amkar;
- 04/01/2018: Rostov - CSKA;
- 04/08/2018: CSKA - Dynamo;
- 04/15/2018: Ufa - CSKA;
- 04/22/2018: CSKA - Krasnodar;
- 04/29/2018: Zenit - CSKA;
- 05/06/2018: CSKA - Arsenal;
- 05/13/2018: CSKA - Anji.
Schedule of matches of CSKA in the Europa League 2017 - 2018
The new football year will begin for the "stable" with an away game with the Serbian "Crvena Zvezda". The meeting will take place as part of the UEFA Europa League 2017/18, in which the Muscovites got in by finishing third in the Champions League group. The games will be held on February 13 and 21, 2018.
The Red-Blues are well acquainted with this European Cup. At one time, the team of Evgeny Giner became the first Russian team to win the second most important club football cup in Europe. Perhaps Muscovites will have to repeat the football feat of the 2005 model. But for this it is necessary to beat the Serbs.
The capital's football players have never met with a team from the capital of Serbia. But the Belgrade team can become a tough nut to crack for the Central Army Club. Firstly, the Stars are a very homely team. Support in the native stands will be crazy! Secondly, the Belgrade team has a successful experience of confrontation with Russian teams, which can be confirmed by Krasnodar defeated by the Serbs in the 2017/18 LE qualification. Thirdly, PFC Belgrade will be twinned with Spartak Moscow. To cheer for the “people's team” of the Serbian spill, a red-and-white torsid will come. So it will be hot!
CSKA matches in the RFPL championship 2017-2018
The main front is the championship of Russia. Successful performance in the national championship guarantees PFC Moscow participation in the main or qualifying draw of the Champions League. The Champions League bonus money is vital for the capital's team, which lives in the austerity mode.
Wards of Viktor Goncharenko occupy the 5th line in the Premier League standings. Only two points separate them from the second and third positions. Under certain circumstances, the army team is able to swipe even on the first line. But for this you will have to win back 10 points and wait for the misfires of the leader of the standings - Lokomotiv.
Decisive for the Moscow PFC will be the fights with Zenit and Krasnodar - the army club's contenders for places in the top three.
The PFC CSKA match schedule for 2018-2019 was drawn up by the RFPL management more than a month ago, after which the club's fans found out when and with whom their favorites would meet. In the coming season, the wards of Viktor Goncharenko will have to prove their worth not only in the domestic championship, but also in the international arena. Considering the fact that the "soldiers" have a limited clip of players, the task of a successful performance is much more complicated.
Match Schedule
The calendar of PFC CSKA games for 2018-2019 in the Russian Premier League looks like this:
the date of the | Members | Location |
Wings of the Soviets - CSKA | "Samara Arena" |
|
CSKA - Rostov | "VEB Arena" |
|
Enisey - CSKA | "Central" |
|
CSKA - Arsenal (Tula) | "VEB Arena" |
|
Rubin - CSKA | "Kazan Arena" |
|
CSKA - Ural | "VEB Arena" |
|
Ufa - CSKA | "Oilman" |
|
CSKA - Spartak | "VEB Arena" |
|
Orenburg - CSKA | "Gazovik" |
|
CSKA - Lokomotiv | "VEB Arena" |
|
Anji - CSKA | "Anji Arena" |
|
CSKA - Krasnodar | "VEB Arena" |
|
Dynamo - CSKA | Arena Khimki |
|
CSKA - Zenit | "VEB Arena" |
|
Akhmat - CSKA | "Akhmat Arena" |
|
Rostov - CSKA | "Olympus-2" |
|
CSKA - Enisey | "VEB Arena" |
|
Arsenal (Tula) - CSKA | "Arsenal" |
|
CSKA - Rubin | "VEB Arena" |
|
Ural - CSKA | "SKB-Bank Arena" |
|
CSKA - Ufa | "VEB Arena" |
|
Spartak - CSKA | "Opening Arena" |
|
CSKA - Orenburg | "VEB Arena" |
|
Lokomotiv - CSKA | "RZD Arena" |
|
CSKA - Anji | "VEB Arena" |
|
Krasnodar - CSKA | "Krasnodar" |
|
CSKA - Dynamo | "VEB Arena" |
|
Zenit - CSKA | "Krestovsky" |
|
CSKA - Akhmat | "VEB Arena" |
The start of the championship for the army team does not promise difficulties, since most of the opponents are of a lower class and are unlikely to claim high places in the upcoming season. The first serious test awaits only at the end of September, when the wards of Viktor Goncharenko will come to visit Spartak at the Otkritie Arena. Further, according to the schedule, the giants will alternate with the middle ones in the Premier League, however, in the conditions of combining matches with the Champions League games, even a weak opponent in the RFPL can become a problem due to accumulating fatigue (recall: the main clip of the "army team" is extremely limited).
Completion of the championship of Russia for the wards of Viktor Goncharenko will be hot. In the last 8 rounds, CSKA's opponents are Lokomotiv, Krasnodar, Spartak, Zenit and Dynamo. Obviously, points will be lost against one of the listed opponents, and this only reinforces the importance of successfully passing the first round of the Premier League. How successful it will be for CSKA, we will find out soon.
Club line-up
The greed of Evgeny Giner, the owner of CSKA, is legendary. Last season, due to the lack of a long bench, the team played with almost the same squad on two fronts: the Premier League and the Europa League. We must pay tribute to the players and the coaching staff: the army team passed the test more than adequately (second place in the RFPL and the LE finals ¼). However, after the end of the season, Ahmed Moussa and Pontus Wernbloom left the team, who were backbone players. It is not yet clear who will replace these tangible losses, because the club is not active in the transfer market.
To date, the composition of PFC CSKA for 2018-2019 is as follows:
- Igor Akinfeev (goalkeeper);
- Ilya Pomazun (goalkeeper);
- Mario Fernandez (defender);
- Nikita Chernov (defender);
- Sergey Ignashevich (defender);
- Victor Vasin (defender);
- Alexey Berezutsky (defender);
- Vasily Berezutsky (defender);
- Georgy Shchennikov (defender);
- Kirill Nababkin (defender);
- Herdur Magnusson (defender);
- Alan Dzagoev (midfielder);
- Alexander Golovin (midfielder);
- Kristian Bistrovic (midfielder);
- Konstantin Kuchaev (midfielder);
- Khetag Khosonov (midfielder);
- Astemir Gordyushenko (midfielder);
- Vitinho (forward);
- Fedor Chalov (forward);
- Timur Zhamaletdinov (forward).
After a successful performance at the 2018 World Cup, rumors about the departure of Alan Dzagoev and Alexander Golovin are being actively circulated in the press. The first is matched with the Italian Lazio, the second - with the English Chelsea. It is obvious that if adequate proposals for the transition are received, the “soldiers” will not be able to keep the midfielders. If this event happens, CSKA will not have players in the center of the field who can creatively support the attack, and in the conditions of the slurred game of the attackers, this will lead to sad consequences.
Prospects for the season
Serious tasks are set for CSKA for 2018-2019. In the Russian championship, the main goal will be to get into the top three, which gives the right to play in the Champions League next season. The formation of the club's transfer budget depends on whether this goal is achieved, so the priority of the domestic championship is obvious for the "soldiers". The silver of the last RFPL draw saved CSKA from the need to qualify for the 2018-2019 Champions League, and Viktor Goncharenko's wards will find out the schedule of matches in this tournament in August. At the same time, regardless of the opponents in the subgroup, the club will face the task of reaching the playoffs of the tournament.
The prospects for the implementation of the intended goals directly depend on the actions of CSKA in the transfer market, which is not much time left before the closure. In the event of the sale of Dzagoev and Golovin, it will not be possible to find a worthy replacement for them, and this will significantly complicate the struggle for high places in tournaments where the "soldiers" will perform. He would risk suggesting that if the leaders are retained, the club will enter the RFPL top three, while leaving the group in the Champions League will depend entirely on the draw. Unfortunately, the "army team" is not yet able to compete on equal terms with the giants of European football.
Thus, the schedule of CSKA matches for 2018-2019 suggests an easy start in the Russian championship and a tense finish period, when the club will face its main competitors in the Premier League. Loyal fans of the team are hoping for a performance of their favorites no less successful than last season and a noticeable improvement in the quality of the game.
The best goals of CSKA in the Russian Championship 2017-2018, see the following video:
« CSKA did not ruffle the nerves of their fans and did the right thing: in the main draw of the Champions League, CSKA joins Spartak. Soccer.ru - about the victory over Young Boys.
What does it mean for CSKA to reach the Champions League group stage?
Without a doubt, today CSKA played its main match at the beginning of the season and throughout the summer, for the "soldiers" getting into the group stage of the Champions League is necessary, due to guaranteed prize money, 12.7 million euros will definitely fall into the treasury of the Moscow club for participating in the main draw of the tournament. Add to this bonuses from the marketing pool and the opportunity to earn by achieving positive results in the autumn matches, you can already count on 18 million euros, due to wins and draws it can be increased. This the most serious replenishment for the budget of CSKA, but there is also an image component. Speaking in the Champions League, the players are in full view of European scouts, for the same Golovin and Vitinho performances on the big stage is a chance to light up, add value, maybe make your club rich in the near future. It is clear that the fans now do not think about money, which everything logically boils down to in this paragraph, but simply rejoice that their team is among the strongest teams in the Old World and will take part in six matches against tough opponents in the fall. However, first of all, for the club, today's success means maintaining its status and maintaining prosperity. Set a task and complete it. Well done!
CSKA defeated Young Boys. Statistics confirm
Hits: 19 (9) – 14 (3)
Nine shots on target - and only two goals. Perhaps, CSKA even didn’t get enough goals in such a game. Vitinho is talented and well-equipped, but sometimes abuses the desire to take over the game when it makes more sense to play for the team. On the other hand, this approach gives the Brazilian the leader of the attacks and the emerging “team in a team”, which the “army” has not had on the field since the days of Wagner Love. If Vitinho finds a balance between individual actions and teamwork and adds a little in the final stage, he will become a real thunderstorm for defenders. And the shock forward, of course, is categorically lacking a person who will "hammer nails." Chalov in the game with the "Young Boys" was somehow queer, as if Olanare had bitten him. A strong striker is not enough to complete a nice painting by the Belarusian artist Viktor Gancharenko. Dziuba, can you hear us? Take on a new challenge!
Ball possession: 49% - 51%
As a result, the “soldiers” even allowed the “Young Boys” to have possession of the ball a little more often, but control, in principle, is not a defining indicator in the game of today's CSKA, although with the late Slutsk, Muscovites today would have stopped at a result of 42-43% and would have made them nervous, playing defense more often. Liked that The “soldiers” played liberated and from the first minutes they indicated that they were the masters of the match and the situation, and not a team that wants to keep a minimal advantage, miraculously obtained on the road. Victor Gancharenko spoke about this before the match - the team completed the installation. Collected, bold, at the same time inventive and cunning in creation, with heels and runs - CSKA's game was not exactly impressive, but liked in a volumetric sense. Muscovites never doubted for a second that a Champions League group stage team was playing against an applicant who lacked experience/skill/drive. As we said after the draw, the Young Boys are a typical home team, this has been fully confirmed.
Hero of the match. Georgy Shchennikov (CSKA) = 7.5 out of 10
In general, the main protagonist of the confrontation is the defender of the "bees" Kasim Nuhu, who scored a goal at home and a pass to Shchennikov in Moscow, may readers forgive this joke "for 100". Vitinho stood out at the VEB Arena, who participated in both goals - the penultimate assist in the first case and an effective pass to Dzagoev, but I would like the Brazilian to reconsider a number of decisions in other episodes, due to his potential status we will ask him to the maximum. Alan scored a wonderful goal - let Chalov learn, Akinfeev has a cool save on his account. But I still want to single out Georgiy, who this August sharply increased in attacking actions and scored his third goal. At the Confederations Cup as part of the Russian national team, Zhirkov and Kombarov closed the left curb, but right now Shchennikov is confidently striding towards the status of Cherchesov's favorite in this position.
What shines CSKA in the group stage of the Champions League?
Sarcastic arrows are already flying in the comments after reading this headline. Like, we know, we know, CSKA is stable in the Champions League: four years - four fourth places, Arsene Wenger is crying in the red and white corner with envy. But in previous years, CSKA did not have Gancharenko, the 3-5-2 formation that breathed new life into the team, and the audacity that we have now. Of course, a repetition of the usual result is not ruled out, simply based on the fact that CSKA pleased and with a high probability of pulling out a killer combination of opponents. The options Real Madrid - PSG - Liverpool or Bayern - Barcelona - Napoli, or Chelsea - Atlético - Roma are not excluded. But that's what the Champions League is for! And CSKA will take part in this big football festival - now this is the most important thing.
The 2018/19 Champions League group stage draw will take place in Monaco, at the Grimaldi Forum Congress Centre. The draw starts at 19:00 Moscow time.
Recall that since this season, 26 teams have received direct tickets to the group stage, instead of 22, as it was before. Six spots were played through qualifying rounds: through the Path of Champions and the Path of League Representatives. The first category is teams that have won national championships with a low rating.
The second category is teams representing more status championships, but not champions. Through the Path of Champions, PSV, Red Star, Young Boys, AEK made their way to the tournament. Through the path of representatives of the leagues - Benfica and Ajax. It should be noted that Crvena Zvezda entered the tournament for the first time since 1991, and Young Boys for the first time in its history.
Benfica thrash PAOK to advance to Champions League group stage
Crvena Zvezda advanced to the Champions League group stage, PSV knocked out BATE
Who is in which basket?
All participants of the tournament are divided into four baskets. Pot 1 includes the winners of the Champions League, Europa League and six top-ranked championships. This is also a new rule: previously the odds table had priority, now only the league's place in the UEFA rankings is taken into account. The second, third and fourth pots are filled as before: according to the place of the clubs in the UEFA coefficients table.
First basket: Real Madrid (Spain), Atletico (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Manchester City (England), PSG (France), Bayern Munich (Germany), Juventus (Italy), Lokomotiv (Russia).
Second basket: Borussia D (Germany), Manchester United (England), Benfica (Portugal), Tottenham Hotspur (England), Porto (Portugal), Shakhtar (Ukraine), Napoli (Italy) ), "Roma" (Italy).
Third basket: Liverpool (England), Lyon (France), Valencia (Spain), CSKA (Russia), Schalke-04 (Germany), Monaco (Monaco), Ajax (Netherlands), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands).
Fourth basket: Red Star Star (Serbia), Club Brugge (Belgium), Young Boys (Switzerland), Hoffenheim (Germany), Victoria Plzen (Czech Republic), Galatasaray (Turkey), Inter (Italy) ), AEK (Greece).
How will the teams be divided?
Teams from the same pot, as well as teams that represent the same championship, cannot fall into the same group. Also, CSKA and Lokomotiv will not be able to meet at the group stage with Shakhtar: UEFA separates teams from Russia and Ukraine.
What else will be at the draw?
In addition to the draw, there will be an awards ceremony for the best player of the season, the best player of the season, the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker. Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah claim the title of the best player of the season.
Goalkeeper nominees: Alison, Gianluigi Buffon, Keylor Navas.
Defender nominees: Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane.
Midfield nominees: Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric.
Forward nominees: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah.
Amandine Henry, Pernilla Harder and Ada Hegerberg will compete for the title of the best player of the season.
It is already known that Cristiano Ronaldo will receive the prize for the best goal of the season.
What else do you need to know?
The first matches of the Champions League group stage will start on 18 September. The final matches in the groups will be held on December 12. The 2018/19 Champions League final will take place on 1 June 2019 in Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, home of Atlético Madrid.
This autumn we will see CSKA in the Champions League 2018-2019. The Moscow team will participate in the most prestigious European club championship for the 6th time in a row. Who will be the rival of the red-blue? What does the schedule of games with the participation of the army club look like? And do Viktor Goncharenko's wards have a chance to get into the next stage of the tournament?
According to the results of the draw, the red-blues fell into group G. The rivals of the capital's PFC were the Spanish Real, the Czech Victoria and the Italian Roma. Muscovites will play their first meeting on September 19 against Victoria, and the last one on December 12 against Real Madrid. Here is what the full calendar of matches of the capital club looks like:
To reach the next stage of the Champions League, the army team must take 1st - 2nd place in their quartet. If they succeed, they will continue to play in the 1/8 playoffs of the tournament. The first round of knockout games will take place in February-March 2019.
Football CSKA rivals in the Champions League 2018/19
Let's analyze in detail the future football confrontations in the G quartet with the participation of red-blue.
CSKA - Roma 2018
With one of the leaders of Italian football, Evgeny Giner's club will clash on October 23 and November 7.
The football team from Moscow had to play with the Romans four times. Two fights ended in triumph for the Italians, one ended in a draw and only once did the army team take over. The last time the two clubs were drawn was in the 2014/15 Champions League season. The Russians lost 1:5 in Rome. And in Moscow they were content with only a draw 1:1.
CSKA - Victoria 2018
The army team is already familiar with Victoria from the city of Pilsen. The capital's players played with the Czechs in the group stage of the Champions League 2013/14. The home match ended with the victory of the Russians 3:2. But in the second leg, the players of "Victoria" were stronger 1:2.
CSKA - Real Madrid 2018
CSKA's toughest opponent in the 2018/19 Champions League group stage schedule. The Russian FC will meet the leader of Group G on October 2 at home and on December 12 away.
The "creamy" red-blues have already met twice in the 1/8 Champions League 2011/12. The home game ended in a 1-1 draw. But the away match ended with a convincing victory of Madrid 1:4.
CSKA's chances of qualifying from the group
Let's be honest, the chances are slim. Too big personnel losses were suffered by the army team in the offseason. The club has lost a number of base players. The midfield was particularly affected. It takes a long time to find a replacement for Natkho, Golovin and Wernbloom.
However, the chances of getting into the 1/8, though small, but they are. To qualify for the next round of the Champions League, players from Moscow must fulfill several conditions.
Firstly, it is mandatory to score the maximum number of points in games with Victoria. The team from the city of Pilsen is the weakest member of Quartet G. It will be extremely difficult to take away points from the rest of the opponents.
Secondly, you need to score points in matches with Roma. The Romans are the main competitors for the second place in Group G. Ideally, the Muscovites should win at home and not lose away. In this case, a ticket to the spring stage of the Champions League red-blue will be guaranteed!
The task is difficult. The team of Viktor Goncharenko will have to make serious efforts and even super efforts to get into the playoffs of the Champions League 2018/19. But the six-time champions of Russia taught us to win in the most difficult situations. Therefore, there is hope that they will surprise this time as well!
