Inter Milan-CSKA Moscow

Posted Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by setpieceanalysts.com

Inter Milan drew the Champions League quarterfinalist that each of the other teams wanted to face, but when Nerazzurri forward Samuel Eto’o intimated earlier this week that CSKA Moscow may be better than Chelsea, it was more than just respecting Inter’s opponent. There are aspects of their Russian opposition that are clearly superior to Chelsea’s squad.

Right wing Milos Krasic, CSKA’s best player through Champions League (and arguably the best right wing through the tournament), has had a better competition than any player on the Blues. The width and speed he provides is something Inter did not face in the Round of 16.

CSKA’s opposite winger is only a slight step down, though Mark González is an injury doubt. Absent during group phase, González’s return to the lineup has balanced a team that was right-side dominant during the early portion of the competition.

With Alan Dzagoev in between – as a withdrawn striker, attacking midfielder – CSKA have three players who may challenge Inter in ways they didn’t see against Chelsea. That is not to say the players are better than their counterparts on the Blues (though they very well may be), but they have certainly performed better in Champions League.

Keisuke Honda, CSKA’s best player during their Round of 16 tie with Sevilla, will be an injury absence in Milan on Wednesday, further putting off the question of how he and Dzagoev will fit together.

Even if Honda were available, Inter’s defense should be up to the task. Right back Maicon can handle González, and while few left backs would fair too well against Krasic, Javier Zanetti is solid.

The middle of defense will be a bit more problematic. Center half Lucio is suspended thanks to yellow card accumulation, as is Thiago Motta, whose role in front of the back was critical in containing Didier Drogba last round. The absences will be augmented by Ivan Cordoba, who will partner Walter Samuel at the back, and Sulley Muntari, who should step into midfield along with Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic. It will take a few more injuries or suspensions before José Mourinho’s squad will be stressed.

Cambiasso’s play in front of the back will be critical against a team that made a habit of scoring from distance in group stage. Stankovic and Muntari (if he’s chosen) will have to help Cambiasso, as all of Krasic, González and defensive midfielder Evgeni Aldonin are capable of finding goals from 20-25 meters out.

Going forward, Inter will likely start Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o in front of attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder, though it’s possible Goran Pandev starts, as he did at Stamford Bridge. More likely, it will be Milito and Eto’o tasked with breaking down a CSKA defense that has been passable, though not good, during the tournament.

The core of the CSKA defense has been highly criticized, with Sergei Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutski and twin brother Aleksei criticized for CSKA’s domestic inconsistency in league last year as well as Russian’s failures against Slovenia in World Cup qualifying. Despite the critics, the back line has allowed only one goal in three league matches, with Russian Young Player of the Year Georgi Shchennikov showing continued improvement.

The key defensive player for CSKA will be Aldonin, who will have to dog Wesley Sneijder. The Inter star playmaker was the best player on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, leading to discussion of John Obi Mikel’s failings (and Michael Essien’s absence). Aldonin will have to improve upon what Mikel offered Chelsea if Sneijder is to be disrupted.

Even if Inter or CSKA are able to break down the opposition defense, two of the world’s best goalkeepers could steal this match for either side. Julio Cesar was held by many to be the world’s best ‘keeper after last season with Inter and his World Cup qualifying campaign with Brazil, but Igor Akinfeev might be the better ‘keeper, as was illustrated at Old Trafford in group play when he put on one of the best performances you will ever see from a goalie that allowed three goals.

Barring dramatics from Akinfeev, Inter has decided talent and tactical advantages on Wednesday. CSKA plays a very ambitious style of attacking football, leading to entertaining matches but also leaving themselves susceptible to counter attacks. Inter’s ability to maintain their defensive positions and uncoil into attack could be perfectly matches against Leonid Slutsky’s team, who are the first Russian team to ever make it to the final eight of Champions League.