Krasnodar
Krasnodar are in fine form at home, with three wins in their last five matches, scoring ten goals in their three most recent games on their own field.
CSKA Moscow
CSKA are fourth with 36 points from 18 matches , and although they are in the top four, it’s been a slightly disappointing campaign for them considering their recent successes.
Head-to-Head
CSKA Moscow have a lead after a 3-1 win over Krasnodar in the first-leg , but they have mixed recent form.
Krasnodar
They have a lot of possession and create chances in droves, with Spertsyan their creative hub and Córdoba their physical forward who is already in double digits for the season.
CSKA Moscow
- Fabio Celestini has made his CSKA side much more difficult to beat since joining in mid-2025, organising his team in a flexible 4-2-3-1 system that ensures they’re dangerous going forward, and very strong in their ability to press and win possession back at high tempo.
- CSKA’s Oblyakov is another creative player who can score and set goals, and was a key player in their first-leg win.
- The visitors have options off the bench in the form of Kislyak and Glebov, who can bring an attacking option in from the start if necessary, and have contributed goals and assists in recent cup and league matches.
Betting Insights
- Krasnodar are hot favourites to win Tuesday’s second leg of this Cup 2025-2026 semi-final, at odds of 1.84, but the odds-on price seems a little short for a side that have to chase the game for most of the match.
- CSKA Moscow are big long shots at 4.38, with the draw set at 4.02.
- CSKA have proved themselves to be specialists in cup competitions in 2025-26, grinding out wins in key games, while they have also demonstrated an ability to raise their game against their rivals this season.
Prediction
- A both teams to score selection has a high likelihood of hitting on Tuesday, because both sides are capable of creating chances and have the quality to finish them off.
- However, we’re taking Krasnodar to win this second-leg 2 - 1, as the favourites have to come out on top.
- But that margin of victory might not be enough to overturn the 3 - 1 aggregate deficit, so we’re also expecting extra time, or a progression for the cup specialists.
