We have reached the second break of the major domestic European football season as club football is put on the shelf. Qualifying for the 2020 European Championship has taken over the calendar and we have some big games to look forward to on Thursday 10th October.
One of which takes place at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow as Russia host Scotland in Group I. The hosts know a win should be good enough to see them qualify for the finals whereas Scotland know they must win to hold on to any outside hope of finishing above Russia in second place.
Russia come into this match on the back of a narrow 1-0 home win over Kazakhstan in their previous Group I game. They needed a late 89th minute goal from Mario Fernandes to seal maximum points and take them to 15 in total in the group.
Trends show Russia have won each of their last four matches in the group. They started with a 3-1 loss at group favourites Belgium but bounced back strongly to beat Kazakhstan 4-0 away, San Marino 9-0 at home, Cyprus 1-0 at home and Scotland 2-1 away.
Russia are undefeated in their last seven home matches, including friendlies. They have won each of the last four and kept a clean sheet in each of their last five. Russia will be relying on their defence to keep another clean sheet in this match.
Scotland have been poor in this group to date and have just 6 points to their name from a possible 18. Only San Marino have a worse record than Scotland in Group I which sums up their performance.
The Scots were defeated comfortably 4-0 at home by Belgium in their previous match and never looked like being a threat for the group favourites. Prior to that game, Scotland lost 2-1 at home to Russia and that was the pivotal result which placed qualification firmly out of their reach. The only two games Scotland have won in the group have come away to San Marino and at home to Cyprus.
Scotland have won two of their last seven away games, including friendlies. The wins have come in San Marino and Albania and trends show Scotland have failed to score a goal in four of those seven away matches.
Team news and Russia will be banking on captain and experienced striker Artem Dzyuba to score their goal and he is sure to start up-front. Denis Cheryshev and Aleksandr Golovin are expected to provide support.
Scotland are likely to start with one man in attack and that could be Sheffield United striker Oliver McBurnie. John McGinn could provide an attacking goal threat from midfield.
Тренировка @teamrussia в Новогорске 📸 pic.twitter.com/kFTjG4UBZI— Сборная России (@TeamRussia) October 7, 2019
Тренировка @teamrussia в Новогорске 📸 pic.twitter.com/kFTjG4UBZI
Russia are the favourites to win this game and it easy to see why. They have the superior recent record and defeated Scotland away from home in the group. A Russia win to nil is a likely outcome.