Russian Super Cup

With the Football season in Russia ready to launch next week, CSKA Moskva face Rubin Kazan in the Russian Super Cup.

The Army-Men have looked strong in the UEFA Cup as they made quick work of Aston Villa but both sides have went through a number of changes since last year. The Zico led CSKA are by all accounts favourites to hoist the Russian championship as they appear to have no weakness. Their rock solid defenders of Vasili and Aleksei Berezutski are bolstered with a stunning array of attacking talent lead by Vágner Love, Russian international Alan Dzagoev, a re-energized Daniel Carvalho and former Slavia Praha striker Tomáš Necid. Igor Akinfeev is a absolute wall between the posts and it is shocking to think he only twenty-two years of age.

Following the championship run last year Rubin Kazan's Gurban Berdiýew hasn't sat still, adding Petr Bystrov and Vitali Kaleshin from FC Moskva, Andrei Gorbanets and Cesar Navas along with returning veterans Serhiy Rebrov, Gökdeniz Karadeniz and captain Sergei Semak.

In reference to their UEFA Cup opponents Shakhtar Donetsk who they will face next week, Army-Man Evgeni Aldonin said:

"A game against strong opposition will help us prepare for the match against the Ukrainians, and we will do anything to win another medal and give our fans something to celebrate. I'm fit but I'm not sure about Saturday's game. I really want to play but it might be better for me to sit this one out."