Trabzonspor vs CSKA Moscow preview - Cauna anticipates tough test

Posted Wednesday, November 02, 2011 by PA

Aleksandr Cauna has warned CSKA Moscow must conquer a "boiling volcano" when they meet Trabzonspor in the Champions League.

CSKA midfielder Cauna was on target as his side ran out 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture at the Luzhniki Stadion a fortnight ago, but is expecting a much sterner test on Turkish soil.

CSKA and Trabzonspor head into the clash locked on four points apiece after three Group B outings, two shy of leaders Inter Milan, and the result could prove pivotal to both sides' last-16 aspirations.

Cauna insists the margin of victory last time out flattered his side, and is wary that Trabzonspor will be far more of a threat in front of their firebrand supporters.

Asked if the victory had been as straightforward as it looked, Cauna told Sport Express: "No, of course not.

"The game was very difficult and it was very good that we scored first.

"The Turks rushed to make up the deficit, and we punished them.

"But in Trabzon it will definitely be more difficult - not least because the stadium will no longer support us."

Cauna has never played a match in Turkey but has a pretty good idea what to expect from the home fans at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium.

"I think it looks like a Greek stadium... resembling a boiling volcano," he said.

Asked how best to quell the home fans, Cauna replied: "Try to score quickly - there is no other recipe."

Meanwhile, Cauna's team-mate Aleksei Berezutski admits the victory in Moscow on matchday three kept alive CSKA's hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

"I think if we hadn't beaten Trabzonspor, our chances of qualifying and advancing further in the Champions League would have been doubtful," Berezutski told www.uefa.com.

"I think we might have managed to get into the Europa League, but not stay in the Champions League."

Trabzonspor opened their Champions League campaign with a surprise 1-0 win at Inter, but in the two matches since have picked up just one point - from a home draw with Lille on matchday two.

The hosts, who are only in the Champions League after Fenerbahce were kicked out amid match-fixing allegations, will be eager to get back on track.

Trabzonspor have been boosted on the eve of the match after their 11-goal top-scorer Burak Yilmaz was declared fit after missing last weekend's Turkish Cup meeting with Gaziantepspor due to a cold.

Yilmaz had been unavailable for Trabzonspor's opening three Champions League matches due to suspension.

Paulo Henrique could feature after a knee problem, as could Tayfun Cora and Onur Kivrak, but Robert Vittek and Baris Atas remain sidelined.

For CSKA, Georgi Schennikov, Viktor Vasin and Kirill Nababkin could feature after injuries, but Sekou Oliseh is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Igor Akinfeev, Keisuke Honda, Tomas Necid and Mark Gonzalez remain in the treatment room.