Guide to Champions League 2007/08! CSKA Moscow

CSKA MOSCOW
Russian champions
Champions League pedigree: Group stage: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07

THE LOWDOWN:
CSKA would do well to savour every moment of this campaign as they are very unlikely to be in the next phase. After going top of the Russian Premier League at the end of May, they have since slumped badly and it will take a Herculean effort for them to qualify for the Champions League via a top-two finish.

One of the main reasons why the former army club have gone off the boil is their terrible luck with injuries. Their brilliant young goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev damaged cruciate ligaments in his left-knee this spring and is almost certain to miss the Champions League group phase. As for Brazilian play maker Daniel Carvalho, he has been out with knee trouble for several months too and faces a race against time to be fit.

THE TECHNICAL AREA:
A prolific striker for Dynamo Moscow in the 1970s and 80s, Valeri Gazzayev has enjoyed much success as a coach, first with Alania Vladikavkaz, whom he steered to the Russian title in 1995, then CSKA (league titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and the 2005 UEFA Cup).

Gazzayev is an advocate of high-tempo attacking football. He places much emphasis on penetration on the flanks and gives total freedom to Carvalho to roam where his instincts take him. Gazzayev will switch from a three to a four-man defence according to the opposition.

THE WOW FACTOR:
Carvalho's vision, ability to pick out an incisive through-ball and lively imagination, not to mention his superb free-kicks, are CSKA's trump cards. Never mind that he is all left-foot, because without him CSKA are not half the team.

The Brazilian strike-force of Vagner Love and Jo are also crucial. Good in the air, a mazy dribbler and unselfish, Jo has been a revelation since arriving from Corinthians in early 2006. As for the maverick Vagner Love, his tricks and speed make him a very slippery customer and European nights bring the best out of him. Their back-up, the young Pole Dawid Janczyk - who signed this summer from Legia Warsaw - has the potential to make an impact too.

CSKA's continuity in team selection is another plus. The bulk of their side has been together for years, so it's no surprise that their play is fluid and the fact that the Russian Championship began in March means they are up to full speed already at this time of the year.

THE BIG BUY:
The Muscovites recently sealed a deal to bring in the much-vaunted Brazilian right-back or wing-back Eduardo Ratinho from Corinthians on loan. The 20-year-old brims over with energy and application, but it is his work going forward, which really catches the eye. His blinding acceleration, dexterity on the ball and accurate crossing are impressive and the cherries on his cake are cunningly flighted direct free-kicks.

THE TENDER SPOT:
Their defence is a little sluggish. The likes of Sergei Ignashevich and brothers Alexei and Vasiliy Berezutsky are all imposing physically, strong in the air and combative, but they can be exposed by the sort of speedy strikers they will come up against on a regular basis in the Champions League.

If Daniel Carvalho does not make it, CSKA will struggle for creativity. Wide midfielders Yuri Zhirkov and the Serb Milos Krasic are fast and skilful, but do not possess Carvalho's charisma or magical powers of invention. Also, Akinfeev's absence leaves a big hole in goal and stand-in Veniamin Mandrikin is inevitably of inferior quality.

HOT GOSSIP:
Jo, Vagner Love, Daniel Carvalho and Krasic have all been the subject of transfer speculation in recent times. Club president Evgeni Giner stresses they are not for sale, but how unsettled have these CSKA headliners become in the process. With so much unrest in the camp, a successful Champions League push seems unrealistic.

IDEAL LINE UP:
Mandrikin, A Berezutsky, Ignashevich, V Berezutsky, Aldonin, Eduardo, Ratinho, Zhirkov, Krasic, Daniel Carvalho, Jo, Vagner Love

THE VERDICT:
Low on confidence at the moment, it may be a case of six group games and out. It's hard to see them causing too many upsets outside of their Moscow power base.