The defending champion will face the biggest surprise of the season so far—neither team has lost a game in the League yet.
Where: Russia, Moscow, Megasport Sports Complex
When: October 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Moscow Time
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Background Story
The rivalry between CSKA and Lokomotiv-Kuban has long been a classic in Russian basketball. In terms of the number of head-to-head matchups in the history of the VTB United League, this duo shares second place in the tournament’s history (64 games, tied with CSKA vs. Zenit), trailing only the UNICS vs. Lokomotiv-Kuban series (68 games).
In recent years, the Kuban team has shown fans that the red-and-blues’ reputation hardly intimidates them. The teams regularly engage in grueling playoff series, including an epic semifinal the spring before last. In the new season, “Loko” has already dealt the champions a painful blow—in September, as part of the VTB United League Supercup, the Krasnodar team defeated the Muscovites 90–82, effectively ending their chance for the top preseason trophy.
A Reversal of Fortunes at the Start
CSKA begins its title defense in an unfamiliar psychological state. As the fall season reached its midpoint, Andreas Pistiolis’ team was reeling from a 62–86 road loss to Perm in their first WINLINE Basket Cup game. This is the capital club’s biggest loss in the United League and the Cup. However, the Muscovites have already managed to get back on the winning track. In a tough home game at Megasport Arena the Army team showed character, erased a double-digit deficit, and outplayed the tenacious Uralmash 90–85. On the eve of a crucial matchup against the Krasnodar team, the defending champion proved it is ready to quickly learn from its own mistakes.
The situation is quite the opposite for Lokomotiv-Kuban. The Krasnodar club did an exemplary job in the transfer market, strengthening its roster precisely and powerfully during the offseason. The revamped Loko is showcasing what is arguably the most attractive and high-scoring basketball in the League, accumulating wins. The southerners are the sole leaders of the standings and are heading to the capital as a team that has yet to taste defeat in the current season.
The Champion’s Countermove
In response to problems at the start of the season, CSKA’s management moved quickly to strenghten the roster. The Army Men used one of their available foreign player slots to bring Amath M’Baye, a familiar face to fans, back to Moscow. After the deal was finalized, the club noted that the decision had been made during preseason training camp following their return from Türkiye.
The French “big man,” a two-time VTB League champion with CSKA, spent last season with Paris Basketball in France, where he reached the national championship final and gained valuable experience in the EuroLeague. As head coach Andreas Pistiolis noted, Amath M’Baye knows the club’s system inside and out and won’t need much time to adapt. His athleticism, competitive spirit, and ability to stretch the defense with long-range shots are expected to quickly stabilize the Red-and-Blues’ play. However, signing M’Baye does not mean the transfer window is closed: CSKA still has one open foreign player slot for reinforcements, which the club plans to use strategically as the season progresses.
The Match-up: Melo Trimble vs. Patrick Miller
The highlight of the matchup promises to be the battle in the backcourt, where two top-tier point guards with different playing styles will face off. CSKA’s American guard Melo Trimble is the main driving force behind the Moscow team’s offense. His ability to create scoring opportunities on his own, pick up the pace, and coolly convert difficult shots at the end of possessions will be the Armymen’s key weapon in their attempt to break through Krasnodar’s defensive lines, same as usual.
Patrick Miller will be tasked with containing the home team’s leader and counter attack with Lokomotiv’s fast breaks. The Southern team’s American playmaker has fit perfectly into the team’s style of play. Miller controls the tempo, dominates physically on drives to the basket, and draws the entire defense toward him, creating space for the shooters. Whoever wins this duel and does a better job of organizing the offense will give their team a strategic advantage.
Key Match Statistics
73 games – the total number of meetings between the teams across all competitions (52 wins for CSKA, 21 for Lokomotiv).
64 games—that’s how many head-to-head matchups the teams have played against each other specifically in the VTB United League prior to this game (47–17 in favor of CSKA).
CSKA’s Amath M’baye has already played 105 games for the team during his first stint in Moscow.
CSKA and Lokomotiv-Kuban currently share first place in the VTB United League standings (both teams are 2-0), remaining the only undefeated teams in the league. The Krasnodar-based team also kicked off the Cup with a win.
