Manchester United have traditionally found it hard going against Russian opposition in Europe but they can ill-afford a slip-up when CSKA Moscow come to Old Trafford for a potentially decisive Champions League tie next week.
It is a worrying fact for United that they have never won at home against Russian clubs and have only won once in eight matches against Russian sides.
CSKA did more than enough in the 1-1 draw in Moscow earlier in October to suggest that the meeting at Old Trafford will be as tough as ever. United could do with the win on Tuesday however - they are tied on four points with CSKA in Group B, two points behind leaders Wolfsburg.
Furthermore, CSKA are top of the Russian Premier League after a hugely impressive start to the season.
For United, manager Louis van Gaal will have even fewer options to choose his side from however, with injuries to Memphis Depay - who has looked significantly better in Europe than he has in the Premier League - and Antonio Valencia. James Wilson is also doubtful after he too suffered a problem in the Capital One Cup defeat by Middlesbrough in midweek.
Valencia's likely absence also means Van Gaal may be without a player who has proved a key man for United against CSKA in the past - it was he who scored the only goal in 2009 to secure victory over the Russians. Valencia also grabbed a last-gasp equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford that year.
CSKA coach Leonid Slutski - who is combining his role with managing the Russian national team until the end of Euro 2016 - took charge just before that six-goal thriller but he has proved a doughty opponent for English sides, as Manchester City found out to their cost last season when they were on the receiving end of a 2-1 home defeat.
Slutski said: "A win in our last match would have given us a lot of cause for confidence in the group, but we still have a good chance after the draw."
CSKA defender Mario Fernandes insisted everything is up for grabs at Old Trafford.
He told the club's website: "The group is wide open. We need to get some points when we play at Manchester United's stadium to progress to the next round because after that we're hosting the group leaders Wolfsburg.
"A draw in the last match was a good result as Manchester United is a very strong team with good players and it was difficult to play against them.
"They had more possession but actually they didn't have any serious chances apart from the one where they scored."
Source: PA
