CSKA Moscow v Tottenham preview: Moussa Sissoko misses out for Spurs

By Pete Hall

Image: Moussa Sissoko has concussion and will stay at home

Moussa Sissoko is one of five Tottenham players not to have travelled to Russia for Tuesday's Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow.

Police have issued a warning to the 250 fans travelling to the Russian capital, after England fans clashed with Russia supporters at the European Championship in France, and on the pitch, Spurs will also be hoping for calm.

Domestically, Spurs have enjoyed their best start to a season for 51 years, but their return to the Champions League did not begin quite so well, as Monaco earned a surprise 2-1 victory at Wembley, and CSKA will be no pushovers on Tuesday, as the side from Moscow are unbeaten after eight league games.

Image: Monaco's Thomas Lemar scores his side's second goal at Wembley

CSKA are also in unfamiliar surroundings. Tuesday's match with Tottenham will be just the third ever competitive game at the new Arena CSKA, which only opened less than two weeks ago.

Team news

Sissoko was substituted during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win at Middlesbrough with concussion, and remains at home for treatment.

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Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino provided an update on his team news which the club announced on Twitter.

Harry Kane (ankle), Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose (all hamstring) also have not made the trip.

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This is the first competitive meeting between CSKA Moscow and Tottenham Hotspur. English clubs are unbeaten on their last four Champions League visits to CSKA Moscow (W2 D2 L0).

CSKA Moscow have failed to keep clean sheet in their last eight Champions League games against English opposition.

Tottenham have lost only one of their five previous encounters with Russian clubs in all competitions (1-0 away defeat v Rubin Kazan in the 2011/12 Europa League), winning three and drawing one.

Image: Mousa Dembele (right) also didn't travel

Spurs failed to win any of their away group stage games in their only other Champions League appearance in 2010/11 (W0 D2 L1); their only away victory that season came at the San Siro against Milan in the Last 16 (1-0).

After reaching the knockout stages in 2011/12, CSKA Moscow have since failed to progress past the group stage picking up just three victories in 19 games since then (W3 D4 L12).

CSKA have conceded in each of their last 23 Champions League matches since recording back to back clean sheets against Trabzonspor in 2011.

Charlie's prediction

This is a tough game for Spurs and an awkward one because of their opening result. They might feel like they have to really go for it, which is dangerous.

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It's a good time to go to Moscow in terms of weather, but the travel is still a problem. They didn't finish the game particularly well against Middlesbrough and there will have been very little time between returning to London and setting off to Russia.

Heung-Min Son was brilliant on Saturday but I think Spurs will still miss Harry Kane, so I think they'll have to settle for a draw, which would still be a good result.

Charlie predicts: 1-1 and Dele Alli to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)

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