CSKA v Man City: In-form Aguero to lead Premier League champs to victory

Sergio Aguero is in fantastic form

Manchester City have taken just one point from their first two games in Group E, but after an impressive victory at the weekend, Evan Bartlett thinks they should be able to make the most of back-to-back games against outsiders CSKA Moscow, starting on Tuesday...

CSKA Moscow v Manchester City
Tuesday 21 Oct, 5pm
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: CSKA 6.611/2, Man City 1.618/13, Draw 4.3100/30

Manchester City return to the Arena Khimki almost exactly a year to the day after their 2-1 win against the Russian side was marred by ugly racist chants aimed at midfielder Yaya Toure.

After continuing that trend of vile abuse in their game away to Roma last month, CSKA fans received a three match ban from UEFA and Tuesday night's game will therefore be played "behind closed doors".

That should somewhat dampen any fears of Moscow being a "tough place to go", as seems to be the de rigueur description for any European game east of Berlin.

Coupled with the fact that the temperature is forecast to be four degrees above freezing and there being a slight chance of rain, the Manchester side should feel right at home. 

City won both the home and away legs against CSKA last season, scoring seven goals, and will probably need to repeat that feat in these back-to-back games in order to cement their chances of qualifying from what is a tough Group E. 

Although CSKA were easily dispatched 5-1 in Rome, they put up a much better fight against Bayern Munich and would perhaps have felt slightly unfortunate to lose the game 1-0 following a soft penalty decision. 

That result would seem to suggest things may not be quite so easy for City, but the English champions have been in good form in the league and their 4-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday will be a good confidence booster ahead of the trip to Russia. 

With a well-rested Yaya Toure set to come back in for an injured Frank Lampard in midfield and with City having won both games against CSKA last year, the English side should be confident of winning this one at odds of 1.618/13.

Both Teams to Score

After an early wobble, CSKA find themselves second in the Russian Premier League with eight wins from their ten games so far, scoring an impressive 26 goals in that time, aided by Ivorian forward Seydou Doumbia and the pacy Ahmed Musa.

With City also having conceded in each of their last nine Champions League games and letting in an average of one goal per game in the Premier League there could well be a chance of goals here.

Both sides scored in both games last season and odds of 1.875/6 on that happening again seem like a good option. 

First Goalscorer

Sergio Aguero has been in scintillating form in the past month and now leads the Premier League scoring charts, alongside Diego Costa on nine, after netting four times against Spurs.

The Argentine has also opened the scoring in three of City's last four games and scored a brace in each of the fixtures against CSKA last year.

As City's preferred penalty taker too, odds of anything around 4.57/2 on him to open the scoring are surely too good to miss. 

Recommended Bets
Back Manchester City to win @ 1.618/13
Back both teams to score @ 1.875/6
Back Sergio Aguero as first goal scorer @ 4.57/2

Follow Evan on Twitter @ev_bartlett

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