A match played in front of empty stands is new to Bayern. The Bavarians are used to playing in front of more than 70,000 fans. However, due to racism, CSKA has been punished by UEFA. Unfortunately, Bayern has been unjustly punished too; their fans will not be able to witness the game from the stands as a result. Thus, the only noises will be those from the players, the coaches and the remainder of the staff.
Bayern has been in very good form coming into this one. The stars are starting to gel. Mario Götze has finally found his feet at Bayern; he has been putting in some stunning performances recently. Also, the presence of Xabi Alonso, who recently broke the Bundesliga record for the most Bundesliga matches, has helped massively, covering up for the absences of three players in Toni Kroos (transferred to Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (injured) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (injured).
They are back to where many say they belong, the top of the Bundesliga table. A win in this match will allow Bayern to stay in control of the group ahead of their double header against AS Roma. They are coming into this one without the aforementioned duo of Alcantara and Schweinsteiger as well as the unlucky duo of Javi Martinez and Holger Badstuber. Franck Ribery might make a surprise return for this one. Jerome Boateng is rated doubtful. For CSKA, Rasmum Elm and Vitinho are out. The talented but hot tempered Alan Dzagoev and Pontius Wernbloom are both suspended.
The two sides met in last season's group stages. Bayern struck thrice in both meetings; the meeting in Russia finished 1-3 to the visitors. Moscow have won each of their last two matches in the Russian Premier League since being beaten by Roma in the Champions League. Following the win against Manchester City, Bayern drew 0-0 against Hamburger SV but beat Paderborn, 4-0, and Köln, 0-2.
Will Bayern win this one? Interested in learning how you can watch the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League? Check out our UEFA Champions League Multi-Platform Broadcast Guide.
CSKA Moskva vs Bayern Munchen team sheets
CSKA Moskva's lineup: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Ignashevich, V. Berezutskiy, Shchennikov; A. Berezutskiy, Natcho, Tosic, Eremenko, Milanov; Musa.
Bayern's lineup: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Benatia, Bernat; Alonso, Alaba; Muller, Gotze, Robben, Lewandowski
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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