Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow Predictions

With their Champions League hopes over, CSKA head to Real Madrid to wrap up their group campaign. The visitors are hoping to claim a result which will push them into third, and secure a place in the Europa League in the New Year. However, getting a win at Real is going to be a tall order, especially given how the hosts have improved in recent weeks. The hosts are looking back to their best, so can they follow that up with another three points in their final European match of 2018?

The hosts claimed a narrow win at Huesca at the weekend, to make it four straight wins. They are in the top four now, and just five points off top spot. They’ve still got ambitions of lifting some big trophies this season, so the European champions have plenty to fight for – despite some awful form earlier this term. They come into this one aiming to finish up with five wins from six in the Champions League, which isn’t the worst record to have heading into the knockout stage.

Of course, Real’s only defeat came against CSKA Moscow. Incredibly, the visitors have managed to defeat the European champions, and find themselves beneath Viktoria Plzen. After conceding four goals and dropping five points to the Czech side, CSKA have dropped out of the running for the last 16. They were beaten home and away by Roma, leaving them bottom of Group G. That’s put the pressure on for the final game of the group, as they’re set to miss out on a Europa League spot.

Of course, Real aren’t going to ease up here. We expect the hosts to push for revenge for their defeat in Moscow. That huge loss was part of a difficult period at the start of this season, something the European champions are coming back from. The hosts have managed to win to nil in three of their last four, and the other saw a 6-1 success. They aren’t just winning matches, they’re firing on all cylinders. Will that continue on Wednesday night?

CSKA have lost their last three Champions League matches, while they were trailing at the end of each half home and away to Roma. Real have been solid at home this season, leading throughout each of their four halves in Europe. With a gulf between the pair, and given how the hosts are in excellent form, we’re backing Real on the half-time/full-time market here.