Last time Manchester United locked horns with CSKA Moskva, the Red Devils came close to suffering a second defeat in three games in the Champions League, needing a second half Anthony Martial equalizer to rescue them a point.
On Tuesday, the English and Russian giants reignite their rivalry, this time with Leonid Viktorovich Slutsky’s crew traveling to Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of their European tie, Louis Van Gaal admitted that he expects a “very difficult” encounter on Tuesday, giving his thoughts on how the Red Devils can beat their opponents.
“I think the most important thing is that you create chances and that you finish those chances. Against Middlesbrough [in the League Cup last week] we created more than enough. Against Crystal Palace it was a concern because we didn't create as much, but that was one of the few matches in which we were not the better team,” said the Dutchman.
However, in these remarks by the Dutch tactician lies the Red Devils true shortcoming: their inability to create chances.
Chances created by Cazorla and Ozil in the PL this season - 81. Chances created by the whole Man United team in the PL this season - 81.
— Arsenal News (@__arsenalnews_) November 3, 2015
In the English Premier League, Manchester United have created only 81 chances, a tally matched by Arsenal duo Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.
This problem has poured over to the goalscoring department, resulting in a 325 minute goal drought, with Wayne Rooney and Co. going three straight games without scoring.
The last time the Red Devils found the back of the net was in their 1-1 draw with Armeytsi. The last time they won was just under a month ago in their 3-0 victory over Everton.
The English giants have the home advantage, which may help them win, but their track record against Russian sides at the Theatre of Dreams is poor, with three games producing three draws.
United have only ever won once against a Russian in eight meetings, both home and away, which was a 1-0 win in 2009 over Tuesday’s exact same opponents.
CSKA Moskva’s unflattering record in trips to England may boost Man United’s chances, however, with Armeytsi winning only once in six games, drawing three and losing two.
The Russian side, however, have one of the tournament's most lethal strikers in the form of Seydou Doumbia.
Seydou Doumbia - 16 goals in 20 games - is a more efficient goalscorer than Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi in #UCL. pic.twitter.com/U1vYf4gkou
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2015
Van Gaal looks to be without several key players, with Phil Jones, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Antonio Valencia, James Wilson, and Matteo Darmian in risk of missing the game.
DID YOU KNOW?
United’s last three home games vs Russian opponents, FC Torpedo Moskva, SC Rotor Volgograd, and CSKA Moskva ended 0-0, 2-2, and 3-3.
CSKA Moskva are 10 games unbeaten and are undefeated in 21 games, a streak which stretches back to April.
Team sheets for Man United vs CSKA Moscow
United's lineup: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schweinsteiger, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney.
CSKA's lineup: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, A Berezutski, Schennikov, Wernbloom, Tošić, Dzagoev, Milanov, Natcho, Musa.
United's subs: Romero, Jones, Darmian, Pereira, Herrera, Memphis, Fellaini.
CSKA's subs: Chepchugov, Vasin, Nababkin, Golovin, Panchenko, Doumbia.
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