CSKA Moscow vs Akron - Cup

The Cup returns to the home ground on August 18, 2026, where CSKA Moscow and Akron will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

Form and standings can only tell part of the story when CSKA Moscow and Akron cross paths in the Cup, and pride alone should guarantee a contest. CSKA Moscow will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Akron's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the first round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both CSKA Moscow and Akron have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Tottenham have changed their approach and are spending big on players who already know the Premier League.

The fixture boasts genuine star quality. With Matheus Reis topping the Cup scoring charts at 1 goals, the stage is set for the kind of individual brilliance that can swing a contest. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. The one thing I've noticed about Tottenham over the last few years is they never had a dominant midfielder.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. With the sides so closely matched, a 1-1 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.