Espanyol vs CSKA Moscow – Prediction (Europa League – 12.12.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Though Espanyol are yet to claim their first home win in La Liga (LL) this campaign (D1, L7), the Group H leaders enter this UEFA Europa League (UEL) game unbeaten in their last 11 UEL fixtures (W8, D3 – including qualifiers) and are already through to the next stage. Impressively, the ‘Espanyolistas’ have also now found the net in each of their last 14 UEL / UEFA Cup fixtures (incl. qualifiers). Impressively, five of Espanyol’s last six competitive wins at RCDE Stadium have seen them win ‘to-nil’. Furthermore, the fact that they won ‘to-nil’ in each of their two historical European fixtures versus Russian opposition may bring additional confidence to their fans.

CSKA Moscow have a had a poor UEL campaign (D2, L3), and travel here winless in their last seven UEL fixtures (D3, L4), conceding an average of 2.14 goals per game across that period. Notably, both teams have scored in three of CSKA’s previous four UEL away games (W1, D1, L2). Whilst the Russians have held their own in the first half during their group stage matches this campaign (HT: W1, D4), they have also failed to score on three occasions. All nine goals they have conceded, meanwhile, have been shipped after the break, with six coming in the final half-hour.

Players to watch: All four of Victor Campuzano’s goals this season have accompanied an Espanyol win ‘to nil’ in the UEL. CSKA’s Fedor Chalov has scored seven competitive goals this campaign, with his team unbeaten in each of the games he has scored in (W6, D1).

Stat attack: Seven of Espanyol’s last eight UEL wins have been settled by a multi-goal margin (incl. qualifiers). Four of CSKA’s previous five competitive away games have produced under 2.5 total goals. CSKA’s two goals this UEL campaign have come in the first or last 15 minutes of play.

Match Info and Live Scores.