CSKA Moscow vs Monaco - Germain highlights importance of Moscow mission

Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2016 by PA

Monaco striker Valere Germain has stressed the importance of his side's Champions League double-header against CSKA Moscow.

The Ligue 1 side top Group E with four points and Germain knows a positive result in Russia on Tuesday would go a long way to securing their qualification.

"It's an important game," the 26-year-old told a press conference. "The two games with CSKA may allow us to qualify.

"We are feeling in good spirits. Of course we would have liked to have won our last match against Toulouse to improve our position domestically, as well as giving us more confidence travelling to Moscow.

"We were unable to achieve this and we will be looking to put things right against CSKA."

Monaco will again be without striker Radamel Falcao, who has not played since suffering a head injury against Nice on September 21.

Playmaker Nabil Dirar (calf) and defender Almamy Toure (hamstring) will also miss the trip.

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim admits CSKA will be weaker without the suspended Roman Eremenko and injured Alan Dzagoev, but will not underestimate them.

He said: "Two months ago during the draw, everyone said we had been drawn in an even group. I see now that this is definitely the case and every match has been close so far. CSKA are a very strong team and are the champions of Russia.

"They managed to finish above Zenit St Petersburg, who we know are a very good team. We are expecting a very difficult match against a good team.

"The loss of Roman Eremenko and Alan Dzagoev is of course a blow, but as far as I know they have a good team and their head coach will find some alternatives. We are expecting a tough game and expect that CSKA will play aggressively, but also in a dynamic way."

CSKA boss Leonid Slutski wants his team to prove a point against Monaco after a disappointing defeat to Tottenham that has left them bottom of the group with just one point from two matches.

Lacina Traore is likely to lead the line for CSKA against his parent club and Aleksandr Golovin could be in line for a more prominent role given the absence of Eremenko and Dzagoev.

Slutski told uefa.com: "Of course an ambitious team like CSKA wants to show what we can do, and even though we've got some difficulties with the squad and injured players, when we're playing it doesn't matter.

"We know Monaco are really strong, they've not lost a match in our group and are playing confidently in Ligue 1, beating Paris St Germain, so they're a very strong team with a well-established playing style."