The VEB Arena provides the backdrop to this upcoming clash between CSKA Moscow and Tambov in what could be described as a mis-match in this Saturday’s edition of the Russian Premier League.
CSKA Moscow ended last season’s campaign in the Russian top flight in 4th place which was thanks to a reasonably strong run-in towards the end of the season after losing just one of their final seven matches overall.
That defeat came in the shape of a 2-1 loss on the road at city rivals Lokomotiv Moscow but otherwise, CSKA produced some encouraging results to finish up in 4th spot following wins against Spartak Moscow 2-0, Akhmat Grozny 4-0, Orenburg 4-0 and a 2-0 home win over Saturday’s upcoming opponents, Tambov.
Saturday’s hosts will be keen to produce a better showing at home though this term as they’ve managed just two wins out of their last seven matches, but this fixture against Tambov represents the perfect opportunity for CSKA to do so as they’ve won each of the previous encounters against their visitors, 2-0, on each occasion.
Onto Tambov, and another meeting with CSKA Moscow probably wasn’t high on Tambov’s agenda, particularly as the visitors succumbed to a recent 2-0 loss to their hosts back in July at the end of last season’s campaign.
Tambov actually avoided defeat by the skin of their teeth (and the meagre margin of 3 goals) as they edged above second from bottom outfit, Krylya Sovetov, by virtue of a superior goal difference, but nevertheless, this upcoming campaign already looks to be a very tough one for Tambov.
Their new Premier League campaign started in familiar fashion as they were handed a 1-0 defeat at home to Rostov which actually became Tambov’s fourth defeat in five matches, and indeed, the visitors have now lost seven of their last nine matches overall in the domestic top flight.
Throw in the fact that Tambov had picked up just three wins out of their 15 matches on their travels last term and you can see why they were occupying a place in the lower regions of the Premier League, and having recorded just one win on the road against top half opposition, this upcoming clash away at CSKA Moscow doesn’t bode well for the visitors.
Nikola Vlasic voted #CSKA Player of the Season 2019/20 🔴🔵 https://t.co/nY6YSzDCFh pic.twitter.com/07dyuObKEt— PFC CSKA Moscow (@PFCCSKA_en) August 10, 2020
Nikola Vlasic voted #CSKA Player of the Season 2019/20 🔴🔵 https://t.co/nY6YSzDCFh pic.twitter.com/07dyuObKEt
To sum up, anything other than a convincing win here for CSKA would be considered a major surprise.