Champions League Betting: Besiktas v CSKA Moscow

Champions League / Tobias Gourlay / 07 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

A good footballing brain and a bad haircut help Milos Krasic fit the 'talented Eastern European midfielder' mould.

Recommended Bets: Back Over 3.5 Goals at [4.4]; back Over 2.5 Goals at [2.32]

Tobias Gourlay reckons neutrals should be on the red button for this massive Group B clash.

CSKA Moscow are level on points with Wolfsburg. The Germans hold the superior head-to-head record, so, to finish second, CSKA will need to pick up more points than Wolfsburg manage at home to Manchester United. Besiktas can still claim a place in the Europa League - if they beat CSKA by better than 2-1 and Wolfsburg gain at least a point at home to United, they will secure it.

The Russian domestic season finished last month. CSKA finished only fifth, but pleasingly named new coach Leonid Slutsky (yes, Juande Ramos has been moved on again) has had more time than usual to prepare for a match his team will start as slight favourites ([2.74]) against a side that started poorly in the Turkish Super Lig but has recovered to take a share of the lead.

Besiktas ([2.86] to win) are still seeking their first goal at home in Group B after a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United and a 3-0 loss to Wolfsburg. They should fancy their chances against a team that conceded three times in each of its two previous Champions League away trips, losing 3-1 to Wolfsburg and drawing 3-3 in Manchester, and hasn't kept a clean sheet - home or away - in 14 matches.

CSKA weren't around last season, but, going back to December 2006, both teams have scored in each of CSKA's last six road games in this competition. There's no money in that market at the time of writing, but there's lots else to think about. All six of those games have gone Over 2.5 Goals ([2.32]) and five of them even went Over 3.5 Goals ([4.4]).

Although 'Speedy' Mark Gonzales (well, he certainly found the quick way out of Liverpool) will miss the game through injury and Brazilian playmaker Daniel Carvalho is doubtful, CSKA have highly capable attackers. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City sent scouts to look out for Milos Krasic on CSKA's last away trip (to Old Trafford), but they should have seen him against Wolfsburg a couple of weeks ago. AC Milan and Real Madrid are also thought to be keeping an eye on the Serbian international midfielder. Even if he won't be around for the Last 16, Krasic holds the key to success for his Russian team.