Eto'o warns of Moscow threat

Posted Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by PA

Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o believes CSKA Moscow could present his side with a more challenging encounter than in the previous round against Chelsea.

The Nerazzurri host the Russian outfit in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final looking to replicate the form which saw them see off Chelsea last time out.

Jose Mourinho's side beat the Blues 2-1 at home before winning 1-0 in London to put Inter in the last eight of the competition for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.

Eto'o, a former Champions League winner with Barcelona who is in his first season with Inter, said: "To have progressed to the quarter-finals was psychologically very important for us.

"But this game will not be easy. Perhaps it will be more difficult than the game in London. But I hope we can get a good result so that the game in Moscow will be an open one. I think a 2-0 win would be ideal but a 1-0 triumph would also be good."

Inter have reason to be optimistic as they are unbeaten at the San Siro this season in both Serie A and European competition.

Moreover, the only time the sides met previously in the Champions League was three years ago and Inter won twice in the group stage.

Inter go into the encounter on the back of Saturday's 2-1 setback at Roma which saw their lead at the top of Serie A cut to one point, but CSKA Moscow striker Milos Krasic fully expects a hard game.

"Inter is a very strong team, one of the best in Europe," he said. "They have won many titles and have a great coach in Mourinho.

"We saw Inter's games against Livorno and Roma and I think they have two or three players for each position."

Krasic, who has scored four goals in the competition so far, has warned his teammates to keep a close eye on Inter duo Diego Milito and Dejan Stankovic.

"I fear especially Milito and Stankovic, who is one of the top midfielders in Europe," he said. "But we will go out and play our game.

"We will not wait for Inter to take control, but at the same time we will not let them surprise us with counter-attacks."

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky can draw comfort from the fact that his team has been formidable on the road.

Having lost 3-1 at Wolfsburg in their tournament opener, the Russian side held Manchester United to a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford and won at Besiktas and Sevilla en route to the quarter-finals.

CSKA top the Russian standings with three other teams with seven points from three games.

The hosts will be without injured defender Davide Santon and striker Mario Balotelli, who has again been left out of the squad.

Mourinho's men travel to Moscow for the return leg on April 6.