Champions League (CL) holders Real Madrid host bottom-placed CSKA Moscow in their final Group G match having already secured their last-16 spot as group winners. The Russians must pick up at least a point and hope the outcome of Viktoria Plzeň’s clash with Roma goes their way if they are to qualify for the last-32 of the Europa League.
Madrid’s 2-0 win away at Roma saw them through to the knockout stages with a game to spare, and Santiago Solari’s men will now seek revenge for their 1-0 defeat to CSKA on matchday two.
‘Los Blancos’ moved into fourth place in La Liga with a wholly unconvincing, lacklustre 1-0 win away to Huesca last Sunday, in which shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois put in a superb performance to prevent the hosts from pulling off a shock. Madrid have now extended their winning run to four games in all competitions.
CSKA’s last-16 hopes were ended by a 2-1 defeat to Plzeň, meaning they need to better the Czech team’s result in the final match to claim a Europa League spot. Viktor Goncharenko’s side travel to Madrid having closed the gap on Russian Premier League leaders Zenit St Petersburg to four points after beating Yenisey Krasnoyarsk 2-1.
Madrid are unbeaten in their last eight home meetings against Russian sides (W7, D1).
Players to watch: Gareth Bale broke his ten-game barren spell in the Spanish top flight with a nice first-time volley against Huesca.
Nikola Vlašić, who scored the winner in the reverse fixture, has been directly involved in four of CSKA’s five CL goals, and also netted at the weekend.
Stat attack: Madrid are on a mind-blowing 44-game scoring streak at home in the CL.
CSKA haven’t scored more than twice in any of their last 16 games.
Madrid have an exact 50-50 share of goals in the first and second half of their CL games this season.
Will not play
Diaz M.
(Muscle Injury)
Dzagoev A.
(Thigh Injury)
Nacho
(Knee Injury)
Vasin V.
(Knee Injury)
Questionable
Casemiro
(Ankle Injury)
Akhmetov I.
(Shoulder Injury)
Reguilon S.
(Injury)
Match Information
Referee: Soares Dias A. (Por),
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)
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