The Media x Pro Cup-2025 match between CSKA and Amkal will take place on June 27 at the VTB Arena in Moscow. CSKA vs. Amkal: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
CSKA
The Moscow club finished last season in third place in the Premier League standings. The "army men" achieved this high position thanks to a 14-match unbeaten streak in the championship, during which they recorded 9 wins and 5 draws. The season concluded for the Muscovites with a victory in the Russian Cup final against Rostov (0-0, 4-3 on penalties). CSKA has also performed well in friendly matches, suffering just one defeat in their last 16 games (10 wins and 5 draws).
A week ago, Fabio Celestini took over as head coach, replacing Marko Nikolić, who has moved on to the Greek championship. It's worth noting that the new coach led Basel to a championship title last season. In terms of player departures, CSKA has lost midfielders Miralem Pjanić, Rifat Zhemaletdinov, and forward Saul Guarirapa.
- CSKA has won only one of their last five friendly matches (2 draws and 2 losses).
- Both teams scored in 6 of CSKA's last 7 friendly games.
- A maximum of three goals were scored in 7 of the last 9 friendly matches for CSKA.
Predicted lineup for CSKA (4-3-3)
Igor Akinfeev – Milan Gajić, Igor Diveev, Willian Rocha, Moisés Barbosa – Matvey Kislyak, Kristijan Bistrović, Maksim Mukhin – Kirill Glebov, Alerandro, Tamerlan Musaev.
Forwards Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Sekou Koita, defender Danil Krugovoy, and midfielder Ivan Oblyakov are absent with the coach's permission.
Amkal
The media team made waves in the last Russian Cup, advancing through three rounds, including an impressive 8-1 victory over Kolomna. In the Media League, Vitaly Popov's squad won Group B (5 wins, 1 loss), and Amkal continues to compete in the playoffs of this tournament, with a chance to become the MFL champions for the first time in their history.
- Amkal has not lost in 4 of their last 6 friendly matches (3 wins, 1 draw).
- Amkal scored in 5 of their last 6 friendly matches.
- The team conceded no more than two goals in 5 of their last 6 friendly games.
Predicted lineup for Amkal (4-3-3)
Maxim Shvagirev – Vladimir Olenchenko, Ruslan Imaev, Ilya Skrobotov, Arseny Levshuk – Vitaly Ushakov, Artur Ryabokobylko, Vasily Mavrin – Shakhriyar Zhabbirov, David Papikyan, Alexander Konev.
Midfielders Gleb Alekseev and Evgeniy Marichev will miss the match due to injuries.
Match Prediction: CSKA vs. Amkal
I believe CSKA will take this match seriously. With a new coach at the helm, players will be eager to prove themselves in the fight for a starting spot. Moreover, there should be no underestimation of the opponent: CSKA has previously lost to a media football representative, and the players will not want to repeat that result.
Amkal is performing excellently in the current Media League. Vitaly Popov's team won their group and defeated FC 10 in the first semi-final. However, Amkal has a return match on July 29, with the chance to compete for their first championship on the line. It's important to note that the team has many injured players, and new players have been invited for the CSKA match, which could lead to a lack of understanding on the field.
In March of this year, Amkal played a friendly against Krasnodar, who did not experiment with their lineup. The result was a 1-6 defeat for the media team. I predict that CSKA will achieve a convincing victory. My prediction: CSKA with a handicap (-1.5)
