CSKA – Lokomotiv M

In the Moscow cup derby, CSKA have a slightly better chance of success.

Another, already the third in a row, Moscow derby involving CSKA will take place at their home stadium as part of the national cup. For both the Army Men and their upcoming opponents, this edition of the tournament has been unusual. Last season, CSKA and Lokomotiv also played in the same group, where they dominated their competitors. Having collected 13 points each, the teams finished eight points ahead of Baltika and Akron Tolyatti. This time, alongside the same Samara-based team and Rostov, the Moscow sides are playing the role of chasers—and not particularly successful ones. Given that the two best teams in the group will advance to the playoffs while the third will move to the Regions Path, both the Army Men and the Railwaymen face a significant risk of finishing fourth and being eliminated. CSKA are in third place, two points behind second-placed Akron, while Lokomotiv are bottom of Group D with three points. In other words, a defeat in the upcoming match would send CSKA to the bottom of the table but would not eliminate their chances of continuing the fight, whereas Lokomotiv would definitely be forced to finish fourth. However you look at it, Mikhail Galaktionov's team are under greater pressure than the hosts of the upcoming derby. The injury situation also works against CSKA. While Lokomotiv have only Sergey Pinyaev and Sergey Babkin dealing with some problems, the Army Men will be without Igor Akinfeev, Dmitry Barinov, Moises, and Milan Gajic, who are out for a long time due to serious injuries. It is also unclear what kind of physical condition the Army Men's key players will be in after their grueling match against Spartak, in which they gave their all. During the main Moscow derby, Dmitry Igdisamov was so pleased with what was happening on the pitch that he made only two substitutions. Tamerlan Musayev and Kirill Glebov played only part of the match, and even in their cases, they were taken off just 15 minutes before the final whistle. Lokomotiv played their league match in Rostov-on-Don, where they lost 0–2. Given the Railwaymen's position in the standings, we should expect minimal experimentation in their lineup and a greater focus on the result. In the first round of the group stage, the sides drew 1–1. Lokomotiv will not lose again in the upcoming match.