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AS Monaco vs CSKA Moscow

AS Monaco vs CSKA Moscow
UEFA Champions League – Group E
Date: Wednesday, 2nd November, 2016,
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stade Louis II, Monaco.

The Group E of UEFA Champions League is one of the tightly contested in the 2016/17 season. Four of the six matches so far were stalemates with Monaco and Tottenham Hotspurs being the two sides that have registered wins. While Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow are yet to win a match after three match weeks.

There is only 3 points that separate group leaders Monaco (5 points) from CSKA Moscow (2 points) at the foot of the table. Tottenham have 4 points and Leverkusen 3. At this point, all the four teams in the group have equal chance of making it through to the knock-out.

CSKA Moscow seem to have the edge when the two sides met on matchday 3. But Bernardo Silva strike late, with 3 minutes left on the clock to earn Monaco a 1-1 draw. CSKA’s two points so far came from two draws. They drew Leverkusen in the 4 goal thriller on matchday 1. But suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Spurs on the second week. Monaco started the campaign with a 2-1 away win against Spurs and were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Leverkusen.

AS Monaco vs CSKA Moscow: Head-to-Head Stats

The first leg clash that ended in a 1-1 draw is the first ever meeting between Monaco and CSKA in a UEFA tournament.

Monaco’s overall record against Russian sides in 9 matches is even distributed across 3 wins, draws and defeats. Their record at home from 4 matches is 3 wins and a loss. The lone defeat was in their first competitive meeting with a Russian club in 1990 and the opposition was FC Torpedo Moscow.

CSKA have faced French Ligue 1 sides 11 times and registered 4 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. They also picked up 2 wins and a draw from 5 visits to France and lost twice.

AS Monaco vs CSKA Moscow: Prediction

This is a very important fixture and both teams will be looking for a win. And for obvious reasons, Monaco are our favourites to win this tie. The main reason behind this is their strong home record this season. They are unbeaten at home this season after 8 competitive matches with 6 wins and 2 draws. They have also scored 2 or more goals on 6 occasions during the period.

On the contrary, CSKA are a poor side on the road. They suffered their fourth consecutive away defeat this weekend in the Moscow derby against Spartak. Their away record in Champions League is nothing to write about and are win-less in the last 5. CSKA registered only 2 wins from their last 13 Champions League matches and 10 of them are defeats.

As a result, it will be worth to back Monaco for a win and hope the series of draws in Group E finally come to a halt on matchday 4.