Meet the opposition | WFC CSKA Moscow

With Swansea City Ladies’ UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign looming, we take a closer look at their opponents, WFC CSKA Moscow.

The Swans face the Russian champions on Wednesday, August 18 in Cyprus in the semi-final of their mini tournament.

What’s their story?

WFC CSKA Moscow were founded in 2016 and ended their first season in the Russian Women’s Football Championship second-to-last.

The Red-Blues won their first piece of silverware in 2017, after they overcame FK Chertanovo Moscow 1-0 in the Russian Cup final.

Over the past two seasons they have began to assert their dominance in Russia after lifting the Russian Championship in 2019 and 2020.

However, they have struggled to push for a third title this season, as they currently sit in third place, 15 points behind Lokomotiv, who sit at the top of the Russian top-flight.

Champions League History

CSKA have only played two matches in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which were both played last season.

They defeated Estonian side FC Flora in the first round of qualifying with goals from Nadezhda Smirnova and Valeria Bespalikova earning a 2-0 win.

The Russians were then narrowly defeated in the next round against Austrian outfit St.Polten by a goal to nil.

Who’s the boss?

Sergei Lavrentyev. CSKA are managed by the 49-year-old, who only took charge of the club in June 2021.

Prior to that he was manager of FK Chertanovo Moscow from September 2016, before making the switch to CSKA.

Lavrentyev is an experienced figure, having also been the Russia Women's national team manager from 2012 until 2014.