Shakhtar vs CSKA Sofia: before the match
Friday, June 29, 2018
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On June 30, the Orange-and-Blacks will play their second friendly at the training camp in Germany
After the encounter with the vice-champions of Denmark Brondby (3-2), Paulo Fonseca’s men will meet with CSKA Sofia.
Opponents
CSKA represent the capital of Bulgaria, also being the most decorated club in the country: 31 league titles vs 26 ones belonging to their neighbours Levski. At the same time, it is important that in recent years Ludogorets have dominated the league (claiming 7 consecutive titles). CSKA won their last gold medals in 2008, when the-then would-be Metalurh Donetsk midfielder Velizar Dimitrov excelled in their squad. These days, he is the main scout of the first team of CSKA.
Coach
In the summer, the 35-year-old Nestor El Maestro took charge of CSKA – he is a native of Belgrade, who in the 1990s emigrated to England and received the corresponding citizenship. Last season, he coached Spartak of Trnava and led them to the first-ever league title in Slovakia. Previously, Nestor also worked as a coaching staff member at Schalke 04, Hannover 96, Hamburger SV and Austria Wien.
Opponents
CSKA represent the capital of Bulgaria, also being the most decorated club in the country: 31 league titles vs 26 ones belonging to their neighbours Levski. At the same time, it is important that in recent years Ludogorets have dominated the league (claiming 7 consecutive titles). CSKA won their last gold medals in 2008, when the-then would-be Metalurh Donetsk midfielder Velizar Dimitrov excelled in their squad. These days, he is the main scout of the first team of CSKA.
Coach
In the summer, the 35-year-old Nestor El Maestro took charge of CSKA – he is a native of Belgrade, who in the 1990s emigrated to England and received the corresponding citizenship. Last season, he coached Spartak of Trnava and led them to the first-ever league title in Slovakia. Previously, Nestor also worked as a coaching staff member at Schalke 04, Hannover 96, Hamburger SV and Austria Wien.
Junior Moraes played for CSKA Sofia in the 2011/12 season
Squad
In the 2017/18 season, CSKA became vice-champions of Bulgaria. The main attacking power of the team was Fernando Karanga, who claimed the second spot in the league’s top scorers race with 23 goals; however, he is highly likely to miss the game vs Shakhtar due to injury. They also have a rising star in their line-up – a 21-year-old winger Kiril Despodov (10 goals and 8 assists in the season). The top provider of assists at CSKA is a Portuguese Thiago Rodriguez (16 assists). Also, this summer, the Sophians loaned out a winger Jorginho from Saint-Etienne, France, they also strengthened the defence by signing up the center-backs Steven Pereira and Boris Sekulic, and the Hajduk goalkeeper Dante Stipica.
Where to watch it?
The Shakhtar – CSKA game kicks off at 15:00 Kyiv time (EET) on June 30. The live broadcast will be aired on the Futbol 1 channel, with the text commentary being available in the match centre at shakhtar.com.
In the 2017/18 season, CSKA became vice-champions of Bulgaria. The main attacking power of the team was Fernando Karanga, who claimed the second spot in the league’s top scorers race with 23 goals; however, he is highly likely to miss the game vs Shakhtar due to injury. They also have a rising star in their line-up – a 21-year-old winger Kiril Despodov (10 goals and 8 assists in the season). The top provider of assists at CSKA is a Portuguese Thiago Rodriguez (16 assists). Also, this summer, the Sophians loaned out a winger Jorginho from Saint-Etienne, France, they also strengthened the defence by signing up the center-backs Steven Pereira and Boris Sekulic, and the Hajduk goalkeeper Dante Stipica.
Where to watch it?
The Shakhtar – CSKA game kicks off at 15:00 Kyiv time (EET) on June 30. The live broadcast will be aired on the Futbol 1 channel, with the text commentary being available in the match centre at shakhtar.com.