Football Results

On Thursday evening will be played first matches of the Europa League round of 16, and one of more interesting duels is between Russian vice-champion CSKA from Moscow and French Lyon, which ended previous season at the fourth place in the Ligue 1 table. In previous round of the Europa League the Muscovites had eliminated Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, and Lyon eliminated Spanish Villarreal. It should be add that this will be their first head-to-head in European competition.

CSKA Moscow

One of teams with most titles in Russia, CSKA Moscow, had started the European season in the Champions League but it ended up at the third place in the group and was forced to continue competing in the Europa League. Their first opponent was Crvena Zvezda Belgrade and it was clear that the Muscovites are stronger team, however their problem was that the Russian championship hadn’t started after the winter break at the moment when they faced Crvena Zvezda.

Nevertheless, team led by manager Goncharenko did a routine job against the Belgradians; they firstly played a goalless draw away and then won at home by 1-0. After that they won the first match of second part of season in the Russian Premier League against Ural by the same result, and right now they have just one point fewer than 2nd-placed Krasnodar. Regarding problems with the team ahead of match with Lyon, out of action due to injuries are defenders Fernades, Vasin and Schennikov, while experienced stopper V. Berezutski is suspended due to accrued yellow cards.

Probable lineups CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev – Ignashevich, Wernbloom, A. Berezutski – Nababkin, Golovin, Natkho, Dzagoev, Kuchaev – Musa, Vitinho

Olympique Lyon

We have said in the introduction that unlike the Muscovites the guests from France compete in the Europa League from the start of season, where they ended up at the second place in their group. That is why they got very difficult opponent in the first match of the knockout phase, Spanish Villareal, but team led by manager Genesio was maximally focused in both matches and it firstly won at home by 3-1 and then away by 1-0.

However, Lyon doesn’t play that well in the Ligue 1 recently given that it went down at the fourth place in the table after six-game winless streak of three defeats and three draws. Right now Lyon has even five points fewer than 3rd-placed Marseille, while it was recently eliminated from the French Cup by Caen. In the meantime their best player Fekir got injured and he will most probably skip the first match with the Muscovites, just like from before injured defenders Rafael and Diakhaby.

Probable lineups Olympique Lyon: Lopes – Tete, Marcelo, Morel, Marcal – Aouar, Tousart, NDombele – Traore, Diaz, Depay

Verdict:

Having in mind that this will be clash between two different football philosophies; CSKA prefers defence and Lyon offensive, it will be very interesting to watch which team will manage to impose its play style. Since the first match is going to take place in Moscow we give advantage to the Russian vice-champions.

Pick:  Asian handicap 0 CSKA Moscow 1.94 - 94/100 @1XBet