Dushanbe-83 vs. CSKA Pamir Betting Preview – Tajikistan Higher League, April 26

It is yet another capital city derby this Sunday as Dushanbe-83 takes on the Army club. Neither side has started the season particularly brightly, although both clubs picked up their first points of the season last time out.

With some of the bigger clubs in the league already dropping points there looks as though there could be some increased parity in Tajikistan this season. A win here for either side would be a huge boost. You can get my thoughts on this match in my Dushanbe-83 vs. CSKA Pamir betting preview below.

BetOnline has taken little notice of Dushanbe-83 being able to win a point in its last game and still makes the hosts the underdogs for this one. CSKA managed to win last weekend, so its favorite tag is probably warranted. The home side has only conceded one goal since the first-day fiasco, however, so the odds for the draw might be of interest to some.

After the baptism of fire that Dushanbe-83 experienced at the hands of Istiklol on the opening day of the season, things have become gradually better for the top flight’s new boys. That 7-0 thrashing was a big wake-up call for one of the league’s smaller clubs, and it looks as though lessons were learned.

There was a narrow defeat against Lokomotiv Pamir, but the first point of the season was picked up at the weekend thanks to a drab goalless draw with Fayzkand. It may not have been pretty, but at least it was a much-needed positive.

CSKA Pamir went one better, however. An early goal from Shodibek Gafarov set the team on its way against city rivals Lokomotiv, and a 3-1 victory put a little distance between CSKA and the teams below.

Dilshod Vasiev scored his first goal for the club in that win, and manager Sergiy Zhytskyi will now be hoping that the big offseason signing can kick on and add to his tally over the next few weeks. The former Istiklol striker could be the difference between CSKA troubling the top of the league or struggling near the bottom.

As much as Dushanbe-83 has battled back since the defeat to Istiklol, I think CSKA is the more rounded side and has more talent that hasn’t quite got going yet this year. The Army club finished just outside the AFC Cup places last season and would appear to be the better team here. An away win for CSKA is a distinct possibility.