Dynamo M – CSKA

Dmitry Igdisamov's team will not lose in the Moscow derby

Moscow Dynamo failed to live up to the expectations of its supporters last season, both in the Premier League and in the Russian Cup. The disappointing results led to the dismissal of Rolan Gusev and the appointment of Sandro Schwarz as head coach. The Dynamo management’s choice provoked a mixed reaction among fans and experts. In 2022, the German left Moscow, reportedly for political reasons. However, as of mid-October, criticism of Schwarz has either completely died down or been significantly muted. In the latter case, it now comes only from those who believe that domestic coaches should be given opportunities at major clubs. The reason for the positive atmosphere at and around Moscow Dynamo has been the team’s winning streak. At first, it was viewed with caution, since Dynamo had also produced brief bursts of high-quality football under Valery Karpin and Rolan Gusev. However, Schwarz’s team has already risen to the top of the league table, and its winning run has reached eight official matches. Earlier in the year, Dmitry Igdisamov was appointed as well. CSKA appointed the relatively young coach with the task of winning the Russian Cup, but the legacy of Fabio Celestini proved too burdensome. Despite failing to achieve the assigned objective, the Army Men signed Igdisamov to a full contract. As the coach recently admitted, he was so surprised and pleased by the opportunity to work as CSKA’s head coach that he did not even read the employment contract offered to him. As of October, it appears that this Moscow club has also made the right choice. Despite losing Moisés, Igor Akinfeev, Milan Gajić, Dmitry Barinov, and several young players during the first third of the season, the Army Men look highly competitive. CSKA’s best run came in September, when they defeated Zenit in Saint Petersburg and collected seven out of a possible nine points. Sunday’s victory over Rodina confirmed CSKA in second place in the league table, level on points with Dynamo at 22 each. The battle between the leaders will most likely be an even contest, with both teams taking the initiative in turn. We will back a double chance in favor of CSKA, who are considered slight underdogs for the upcoming match.