Match Overview: CSKA Moscow vs FC Krasnodar

The seventh round of the MIR Russian Premier League brings a highly anticipated clash between CSKA Moscow and FC Krasnodar. This pivotal encounter is scheduled for August 31st at the VEB Arena in Moscow. This forecast provides an in-depth analysis, key statistics, and a betting prediction for the CSKA vs Krasnodar match.

CSKA Moscow Analysis

The capital club secured a 3-1 home victory against Akron in the previous round, marking their fourth win in the last five championship matches, with one draw. Notably, the Army Men conceded goals in all these encounters. However, CSKA’s potent offense effectively compensates for defensive vulnerabilities, with their 14 goals scored placing them among the top three in the league. Fabio Celestini’s squad has climbed to 2nd place in the standings, trailing Krasnodar by just one point. Interestingly, in their match against Togliatti, CSKA only managed a single corner kick, significantly below their average of 4.2.

Key Statistics for CSKA Moscow

• Both teams scored in 6 of the Army Men’s last 8 Premier League matches.
• The club boasts a 5-match winning streak at home in this tournament.
• CSKA scored at least two goals in 6 of their last 8 home championship games.

CSKA Moscow Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Igor Akinfeev – Moisés Barbosa, Igor Diveev, Matvey Lukin, Milan Gajić – Matheus Alves, Matvey Kislyak, Ivan Oblyakov, Danil Krugovoy – Tamerlan Musaev, Kirill Glebov.

Team News: Injuries and Returns

Midfielder Rodrigo Villagra is currently injured. Forward Alerrandro has recovered from his injury.

FC Krasnodar Analysis

FC Krasnodar delivered a stunning 6-0 rout against Krylia Sovetov in the last round, matching a club record for their largest victory. Murad Musaev’s charges have now secured four consecutive championship wins, conceding only one goal during this impressive run. Furthermore, the team leads the RPL 2025/26 season in clean sheets (4) and currently sits atop the main league standings.

Key Statistics for FC Krasnodar

• The club has scored in 8 consecutive Premier League matches.
• In 7 of their last 9 away matches in this tournament, Krasnodar conceded no more than one goal.
• At least one goal was scored in both halves in 5 of Krasnodar’s last 7 away championship games.

FC Krasnodar Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Stanislav Agkatsev – Giovanni Gonzalez, Diego Costa, Vitor Tormena, Sergey Petrov – Eduard Spertsyan, Aleksandr Chernikov, Gaëtan Perrin, Nikita Krivtsov – Victor Sá, John Córdoba.

Team News: Injuries

Defender Lucas Olaza and forward Gustavo Furtado are currently injured.

Match Official: Rafael Shafeev

Rafael Shafeev (Russia)

Referee Statistics Overview

Matches officiated – 10 (RPL, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 34;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;

Red cards shown – 3;

Average fouls per match – 24;

Penalties awarded – 30%.

Match Prediction: CSKA Moscow vs FC Krasnodar

Bookmakers have found it challenging to pick a clear favorite for this encounter. CSKA holds an advantage in head-to-head matches and benefits from playing on home turf. However, they face the reigning champions, who are currently leading the league. Historically, matches between these two sides haven’t always been high-scoring affairs, but I anticipate both teams will deliver an entertaining, high-scoring contest this time.

CSKA’s Offensive Momentum

Following a goalless draw in their opening round, the ‘Army Men’ have netted at least two goals in four of their subsequent five RPL matches. Despite their attacking prowess, Fabio Celestini’s side has failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games. The head coach is clearly instilling an attacking philosophy, and CSKA’s offensive performance continues to improve with each fixture. Notably, CSKA also leads the league in terms of creating scoring opportunities.

Krasnodar’s Attacking Power and Defensive Gaps

FC Krasnodar, on the other hand, stands out as the most prolific team in the current championship. Their recent goal spree, with 11 goals scored in the last two rounds under Murad Musaev, certainly contributed to this statistic. While they also boast one of the league’s most robust defenses, they did concede two goals against Lokomotiv, a team of comparable strength to CSKA.

Final Bet Recommendation

My prediction: “Total Goals Over 2.5” with odds of 2.00.

Expert Analyst

Analyst: Alexey Tarabrin