CSKA Moscow - Zenit predictions and free betting tips [02/05/2024]

CSKA will face Zenit in the first match of the Russian Cup Final RPL Way today.

Current Form of CSKA

Despite struggling in the league, CSKA has managed to secure their place in the Russian Cup final RPL Way. The team is currently sitting in 8th place in the Russian Premier League with 38 points, considerably fewer than the leaders and is out of the running for top positions in the league. A recent 1:3 defeat to Baltika emphasises the team's struggles, yet they've proved resilient in the Cup matches, maintaining an unbeaten run of 8 matches - 4 wins and 4 draws, with clean sheets in half of these matches.

Vladimir Fedotov's squad's form leading up to the Cup final is questionable, with only 2 victories in the last 8 matches. Those two victories, though, against Krylia Sovetov and Fakel with a scoreline of 2:0 and 4:1 respectably, might lodge some hope for a decent performance in the final. The defeats suffered against Akhmat and Baltika remind us of the inconsistency that CSKA experiences, which is why they're now mostly focusing on winning the Cup, a chance to make up for their disappointing league season to some extent. The Russian Cup Final will give CSKA an opportunity to prove its resilience and ability to fight and conquer despite the season's difficulties.

Current Form of Zenit

Zenit always is a favourite in the Russian Premier League, however, this season they've experienced a set of unexpected challenges that threw a spanner in their league dominance. The St. Petersburg team, having fortified in the off-season, started the season with volatility, before finding their feet and moving top of the standings, overtaking Krasnodar. Even after unexpected points drops against Rubin (0:2) and Dynamo (0:1), Zenit is maintaining the lead, however, the advantage over the pursuers has been diminished to the bare minimum.

Sergei Semak's charges secured their place in the final of the Russian Cup RPL Way effortlessly after a 0:0 draw with Spartak, extending their successful run in the tournament, which includes 4 victories and 1 defeat. It's crucial to note that Zenit, boasting a strong and deep squad, can display top-level football even amid increasing competition. Ahead of the final against CSKA, Zenit will likely not risk all their key players given the upcoming fight for the championship and the reverse fixture in St. Petersburg. Semak might employ a strategy focusing on defence and counterattacks, considering CSKA's robust and consistent playing style, especially in defence.

Head to Head

The teams last faced each other on 3rd September 2023 as part of the RPL, which ended at 1:1. Prior to that, on 15th July 2023 in the Super Cup match, Zenit had a 1:0 victory over CSKA. On 19th March 2023 during another RPL match, CSKA emerged victorious over Zenit at 1:0. On 13th August 2022, in a home RPL match, Zenit defeated CSKA 2:1, and on 28th November 2021, also as part of the RPL, Zenit overcame CSKA 2:0 at their home ground.

Match Prediction for CSKA - Zenit

The recent derby between Dynamo and Spartak showed how the winning team can stall the game, especially when two leading Russian teams are involved, both in their worst form lately. I place a bet on the total goals score to be under 2.5, considering the two tie-match clash, no one will risk it. In the previous mutual encounters, the total goal score hasn't been achieved six times in a row.