The Champion's League resumes play finally! Yeah yeah, I know technically it already resumed last week, but until Madrid plays it doesn't count. Madrid resumes its march towards its tenth title with a journey to the frigid block of ice that is Russia to face a CSKA in pre-season warmup (insert joke here) and hopefully build a comfortable cushion for the return leg in the only slightly less frigid Madrid. This occasion will mark the first competitive meeting of the two sides in history and so even the most ardent Madrid supporter would be forgiven for going into this tie with a lot of questions- this article will seek to answer some of those more pressing questions.
CSKA Who?
The Red Army, that's who! PFC CSKA Moscow, which is the football side of the larger CSKA club- Madrid CF to Real Madrid if you will, has been around for just over one hundred years. They have long been associated with the Russian military and are technically still a part of Russian Defense Ministry, but for all practical purposes they are a professional club made up of civilians. They boast one of the most impressive histories in the Russian football logbooks with their most recent exploits being a second place finish in 2010, the Europa title in 2005 (then UEFA Cup), the 2011 Russian Cup, and a QF CL appearance in 2010. So while they aren't quite to pedigree of Madrid, this is a side that is not unfamiliar with winning or European competition and it would be foolish for our squad to pretend this is a cake walk.
Anyone Familiar in Moscow?
This is not a club of global superstars, and you will be forgiven if you have trouble telling players like Vasili Berezutski apart from players like Aleksei Berezutski (yes they are infact identical twin defenders) though here is a hint- Vasili is more likely to be central than his brother. The Berezutski brothers are a good example of the core of CSKA Moscow's team, which is decidedly Russian and thus a typically hardworking and physical squad, but that is not the entirety of the squad. Newly purchased forgeiners Pontus Wernbloom (Sweede) and Ahmed Musa (Nigerian) are likely starters, but this is as much due to injury/suspesion as anything. In fact the two names that you are most likely to recognize, Keisuke Honda and Igor Akinfeev, are both ruled out of this match due to long term injuries. They are both on the tail end of their recoveries however, so by the middle of March they might be ready to make appearances in Madrid. To round out the list of missing CSKA players- Aleksandrs Cauna, Pavel Mamaev, and Kirill Nababkin- for injury, suspension, and suspension reasons respectively.
Injuries, Good Thing We Have None Right?
Of course the title is being facetious, but it is accurate to say good thing we have such a strong squad. Di Maria aggrevated his thigh with his second half appearance on the weekend and so he joins Lass and Altintop in missing out on doing their best impression of a popsicle on the sidelines in Moscow. With squd players like Arbeloa, Granero, and Kaká (always weird to call him a squad player) we should have no problems plugging the gaps. Where the real problem lies is something, or somewhere, else...
Can a Plastic Pitch Freeze?
Perhaps the more accurate title for this would be know your enemy: Luzhniki since many Madridistas and pundits seem more concerned about the conditions than the opposition when Madrid face the Russian giants. The response to that is a simple axiom: both teams play on the same pitch. Sure pitch quality can be a great equilizer, and weather conditions can be more familiar to one side than the other, but when you get down to brass tacks- 2 teams, 1 pitch, 90+ minutes... everything else is just window dressing. Still that window dressing can have a might huge impact on the course of play. Luzhniki, which hosted the 2008 CL final (though real turf was laid for the occasion) opened in 1956 holds over 78 thousand spectators and is the predetermined site of the 2018 World Cup final. Inbetween 2008 and, presumably 2018, the stadium maintains a plastic pitch designed to avoid the costly maintenace of having to entirely replace a pitch after every harsh Russian winter. With temperatures expected to be a few degrees south of freezing I think everyone, CSKA Moscow included, is hoping the undersoil heating keeps the pitch safe. Artificial fields are always a bit more dangerous for minor injuries, but an artificial pitch hard as concrete- why it makes my ACL burn just thinking about it.
So It Is All Just Doom and Gloom?
Of course not! We are heavily expected favorites to come out of Moscow with a couple goal cushion and it would take a very brave person to bet against Madrid extending any advantage at home. CSKA Moscow is a side that can cause problems, but you have to expect Mourinho to get it right over the two legs and for the superior side to advance. That said, we are playing against more than just the pitch tomorrow... we should be careful to remember that. I do not claim to be an expert on CSKA Moscow or the RPL, just a guy that did a bit of research, so anyone with opions/insight to share feel free to fill us in. Also, is anyone brave enough to predict the score? Is anyone else morbidly pleased with the fact that we won't have to see Igor Akinfeev, one of Europe's best young keepers in my opinion, guarding those frostbiten sticks we are trying to put the ball between? Let us know what you think!
Thanks to koraxdc for having an awesome CC picture of Luzhniki for me to nab.
