CSKA Moscow v Aston Villa UEFA Cup match preview

CSKA Moscow travel to face Aston Villa Wednesday evening in a UEFA Cup match with the new Army-Men manager Zico anxious for his first victory under fire.

In the final stages of last years campaign the Army-Men were unquestionably the hottest team in the league. Following the retirement of Valery Gazzaev, the legendary Zico took the helm in what looks to be a powerhouse lineup. Along with Vágner Love and last years emerging Russian star Alan Dzagoev, the club has added Tomáš Necid from Slavia Praha and a reinvigorated Daniel Carvalho returns from Internacional.

For the match CSKA will be without the services of Cup-tied Tomáš Necid and both Anton Grigoriev and Deividas Šemberas are in the sin-bin. Villa's Martin O'Neill misses England international Emile Heskey to injury and Steve Sidwell is suspended.

The ultimate issue in this match is the preparedness of the Army-Men who last played a regulation match against Nancy in the first week of December. Whilst they have went through a full series of friendlies they are likely to have a solid build up of rust.