CSKA Moscow vs FK Krasnodar Best odds and tips

CSKA Moscow sit third in the Premier League 2024/2025 table with 52 points from 27 games, but league leaders FK Krasnodar are a full nine points ahead of them with 61 points from as many games. This Saturday’s match is a big one in the title race with Krasnodar desperate to maintain their advantage and CSKA keen to re-establish their top-tier pedigree. The visitors are in much better form than the home side, having won four of their last five Premier League games, while CSKA have won one, drawn three and lost one.

Marko Nikolic took charge as CSKA Moscow’s head coach on 3rd June 2024 and is already putting his tactical stamp on the team, which is a pragmatic, well-organised unit that looks to be solid at the back and adapt during games. Nikolic’s side lost 2-0 away to Zenit in their last league game and drew 1-1 away at Akhmat Grozny the game before that, so they don’t travel well and could be in trouble against the league leaders. Murad Musayev has been FK Krasnodar’s manager since 14th March 2024. He has guided his team to a dynamic, possession-based style. Krasnodar have won their last two games 2-1 at home to Rubin Kazan and 3-2 away at Dynamo Makhachkala and look to be in good shape to continue their title charge.

Eduard Spertsyan is the talisman of Krasnodar’s attack, having scored 10 Premier League goals in 25 appearances this season, while Tamerlan Musaev leads the line for CSKA with seven in 27. Spertsyan has scored 3 in his last five matches, while CSKA have Sekou Koita to thank for three of their six in the same number of games. Both clubs have good youth development systems, but Krasnodar have integrated their youngsters into a dynamic first team that is thriving on the field. CSKA are more of a solid team that could hold out against the leaders, but our main selection has to be the visitors at 2.53 as they have a better away record than the home side and are top of the table. CSKA have won six, drawn three and lost four of their 13 home league games this season, scoring 22 goals in the process, while Krasnodar have scored an average of 2.00 goals per game on their travels and conceded just 1.00. Given the away form of the visitors and the fact they are top of the table, they should be favourites here, but CSKA have a good home record and have been solid under Nikolic. So the draw at 3.46 is also a good price, while both teams to score looks a good value punt given the attacking quality on show.