CSKA Moscow 3.00 v Man United 2.60; The Draw 3.50
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport Europe
CSKA Moscow
Manchester United will be under no illusions as to the challenge that they face at Arena Khimki after witnessing CSKA Moscow sprint into a 3-0 lead within 36 minutes at home to their matchday-one conquerors PSV three weeks ago.
They are absolutely bossing the Russian Premier League too, with ten wins and two draws from their opening 12 fixtures putting them five points above second-placed Lokomotiv Moscow and at least ten clear of everybody else.
Man United
The international break appeared to arrive at an ideal time for the Red Devils. They went from being outclassed 3-0 by Arsenal side to prevailing 3-0 against Everton at recent bogey ground Goodison Park in one of their most celebrated performances since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
That backdrop makes this one of the most intriguing games of the last 30 months, an opportunity to discover whether that Merseyside mastery was the beginning of something special or another false dawn.
Luke Shaw, Paddy McNair, Ashley Young and James Wilson won't be available for them in Russia, but the XI who produced that acclaimed display on Saturday have all travelled.
Match Odds
Group B has been the closest of any Champions League quartet to date, with all four teams tied on three points and every encounter so far being won by the hosts by a one-goal margin.
The combination of that home advantage and CSKA Moscow's aforementioned snappy start to 2015/16 might suggest that there is too much adversity to overcome for a Man United squad that have triumphed in a mere one of their past eight Champions League trips abroad besides qualifiers.
However, this writer sees several reasons to be positive. The first is that, though the Russian club are unbeaten domestically, they were held in their two trickiest Arena Khimki assignments against Zenit St Petersburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.
They also haven't been too hot in Europe this term besides that blistering getaway against PSV, drawing with Sparta Prague in front of their fans in the third qualifying round - sneaking through 5-4 on aggregate only after the Czechs had a player sent off - and losing away to Sporting Lisbon (play-off) and Wolfsburg (Group B).
Louis van Gaal's men's rather harsh 2-1 defeat to PSV last month was their third in a row on the road in the tournament proper, yet this is a slightly misleading stat as the other two occurred over 18 months ago under a different manager in knockout ties.
Their away group-stage record across 2012/13 and 2013/14 was a perfectly passable P6 W3 D2 L1, with the sole reverse occurring in a dead rubber once 12 points had been collected. They have also sealed two significant victories on their travels since the PSV setback (Southampton and Everton).
To Score
The CSKA Moscow clean sheet is justifiably short to oppose at 1.31 owing to the four years and 11 games that they last kept one as hosts in the Champions League. Nineteen goals have gone against them since, including five in three outings this season.
Earlier in the competition, this columnist pitched the theory that Memphis Depay will be more successful on the continent - where he has already scored three times - than in the Premier League initially.
In keeping with this, the Dutch forward should be considered to net in Moscow at 3.80 despite his non-involvement at Everton on Saturday. If he plays no part again, your stake will be refunded.
Recommended Bets:
Back Man United to win @ 2.60
Back Memphis Depay to score @ 3.80
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport Europe
CSKA Moscow
Manchester United will be under no illusions as to the challenge that they face at Arena Khimki after witnessing CSKA Moscow sprint into a 3-0 lead within 36 minutes at home to their matchday-one conquerors PSV three weeks ago.
They are absolutely bossing the Russian Premier League too, with ten wins and two draws from their opening 12 fixtures putting them five points above second-placed Lokomotiv Moscow and at least ten clear of everybody else.
Man United
The international break appeared to arrive at an ideal time for the Red Devils. They went from being outclassed 3-0 by Arsenal side to prevailing 3-0 against Everton at recent bogey ground Goodison Park in one of their most celebrated performances since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
That backdrop makes this one of the most intriguing games of the last 30 months, an opportunity to discover whether that Merseyside mastery was the beginning of something special or another false dawn.
Luke Shaw, Paddy McNair, Ashley Young and James Wilson won't be available for them in Russia, but the XI who produced that acclaimed display on Saturday have all travelled.
Match Odds
Group B has been the closest of any Champions League quartet to date, with all four teams tied on three points and every encounter so far being won by the hosts by a one-goal margin.
The combination of that home advantage and CSKA Moscow's aforementioned snappy start to 2015/16 might suggest that there is too much adversity to overcome for a Man United squad that have triumphed in a mere one of their past eight Champions League trips abroad besides qualifiers.
However, this writer sees several reasons to be positive. The first is that, though the Russian club are unbeaten domestically, they were held in their two trickiest Arena Khimki assignments against Zenit St Petersburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.
They also haven't been too hot in Europe this term besides that blistering getaway against PSV, drawing with Sparta Prague in front of their fans in the third qualifying round - sneaking through 5-4 on aggregate only after the Czechs had a player sent off - and losing away to Sporting Lisbon (play-off) and Wolfsburg (Group B).
Louis van Gaal's men's rather harsh 2-1 defeat to PSV last month was their third in a row on the road in the tournament proper, yet this is a slightly misleading stat as the other two occurred over 18 months ago under a different manager in knockout ties.
Their away group-stage record across 2012/13 and 2013/14 was a perfectly passable P6 W3 D2 L1, with the sole reverse occurring in a dead rubber once 12 points had been collected. They have also sealed two significant victories on their travels since the PSV setback (Southampton and Everton).
To Score
The CSKA Moscow clean sheet is justifiably short to oppose at 1.31 owing to the four years and 11 games that they last kept one as hosts in the Champions League. Nineteen goals have gone against them since, including five in three outings this season.
Earlier in the competition, this columnist pitched the theory that Memphis Depay will be more successful on the continent - where he has already scored three times - than in the Premier League initially.
In keeping with this, the Dutch forward should be considered to net in Moscow at 3.80 despite his non-involvement at Everton on Saturday. If he plays no part again, your stake will be refunded.
Recommended Bets:
Back Man United to win @ 2.60
Back Memphis Depay to score @ 3.80
