Besiktas v CSKA Moscow
Football: Champions League 2009/2010
Tuesday, 8th December 2009. Kickoff 20:45

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Besiktas (Turkey)

Besiktas turned their unfortunate CL campaign around with a stunning win at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The 5th round result does not grant them the possibility to promote from the group, however the Europa League berth is now within reach provided Besiktas beat CSKA and Wolfsburg snatch a point or beat Manchester United.A scenario which is far from impossible.

In the early stages of the season it looked as though Mustafa Denizli would get the sacking. But recently his boys have re-established the type of form, which saw them clinch a Champions' League spot last season.Hosts are set to miss notable regulars Filip Hološko and İbrahim Toraman, plus less significant Erkan Zengin and Hakan Arıkan.

Besiktas had a 7 match winning streak in Turkish top flight until the 0-0 draw at the week-end against lowly Diyarbakirspor.The most impressive result was registered against city rivals Fenerbahche, who were humiliated 0-3 on their home turf.

Expected formation and line up :
Besiktas (4-4-2)
Rustu
Kas, Hakan, Ferrari, Uzulmez
Fink, Ernst, Tello, Koybasi
Nihat, Bobo

CSKA Moscow (Russia)

CSKA enter the final match of their UCL group campaign knowing that even a win will not guarantee promotion to the next round. Players will have ears tuned for the news coming from Germany, where Wolfsburg has to lose points against unmotivated Manchester United.

Amongst team news: left winger Mark Gonzalez is still nursing an injury. Deividas Semberas is available for selection after serving 1 match suspension.News flash just came this morning from UEFA head office. The disciplinary commitee has banned regular defenders Sergey Ignashevich and Alexey Berezutskiy for today's fixture for doping. Russia duo were apparently treated with a forbidden medicine during a recent flu infection.

CSKA won the first leg match in Moscow against Besiktas with relative comfort. However back then the team was managed by Juande Ramos. Under Leonid Slutsky CSKA’s is undefeated in UCL and has shown rampant football both at Old Trafford (3-3) and against Wolfsburg in Moscow (2-1). Rather reckless defending is supported by efficient attack. Stakes will be high in Turkey and I’m sure Slutsky will ask his men to be more cautious in every part of the pitch.

This is the last match of the year for CSKA and the overall high motivation will be closely bordering the thoughts about upcoming holidays. Defensive duo Alexey and Vasiliy Berezutsky have been seriously offended by the ongoing scandal about Russian National team drinking in Maribor on the eve of the return fixture against Slovenia.

Expected formation and line up :
CSKA Moscow (4-2-3-1)
Igor Akinfeev,
Chidi Odia, Anton Grigorjev, V.Berezutskiy, Grigoriy Schennikov
Deividas Semberas, Evgeniy Aldonin
Milos Krasic, Alan Dzagoev, Pavel Mamaev
Tomas Necid

Betting advice

As far as we can see Besiktas is enjoying a buoyant run of form in the domestic league: 550 minutes without a conceded goal, possibility of taking the first spot in the nearest rounds to come.

I actually expect news coming from Germany to have the biggest influence on the game. If Wolfsburg take an early lead against Manchester United – then CSKA’s motivation and attitude can suffer big time.

That’s the type of scenario I have in mind.

The Statistics :

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Besiktas (0) @ 1.975 with Bet365