CSKA Moskva vs Bayern Munich: Where to watch live on November 27, 2013

November 27, 2013 By Samrin Hasib

Topics: Live Stream, TV Schedules, Live Scores, Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, FOX Soccer, FOX Sports

FC Bayern München will look to set a new UEFA Champions League record when they take on the Moscow giants in extreme conditions.

Preview: A Rather Arduous Task for the holders in the Arena Khimki

Russia, as most football viewers and most weather personnel are aware of, is most unwelcoming at this time of the year. The snow is as frequent as Dortmund’s counterattacks. Pep Guardiola cancelled his side’s final training session due to an attack by snow on their training ground. Nonetheless, Bayern does not want the snow and the freezing temperatures to hamper their ambitions. If they win in Russia, they will break a record they themselves and Barcelona host jointly – most consecutive wins in the Champions League. Currently, the record stands on nine wins.

Guardiola will have to make do without a man who would have been rather useful in a physical battle in Russia’s winters - Mario Mandzukic. Along with the Croat, Claudio Pizarro, Holger Badstuber, Xherdan Shaqiri, Franck Ribery, Diego Contento and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be forced to watch from the sidelines. Julian Green, the youngster who was recently handed a professional contract, has been named in the squad.

Guardiola enthused about CSKA’s talents prior to the match. He mentioned their creative gem, Alan Dzagoev. Dzagoev is doubtful for this one; the playmaker has not featured since mid-September. Also, one of the Berezoutski twins, defender Vassili Berezoutski is doubtful. Sergey Chepchugov and Aleksandrs Cauna have been ruled out of this clash.

CSKA has to better Viktoria Plzen’s result in England to qualify for the Europa League. Bayern along with Manchester City have already qualified from this group. Only the top spot is on the line. Bayern can only secure top spot if they better City’s result against Plzen. The team from Moscow will have to do so without a portion of their home support; UEFA has imposed a partial stadium ban on them due to racist chants against Yaya Toure in their previous European home game. Otherwise, the battle for the top spot will go down to the final day when the European champions host City.

CSKA has been in good form recently. They have won their previous three Russian Premier League games on the trot. However, coach Leonid Slutski is under no illusions of the task ahead of him. He also does not feel that the weather conditions will have an effect; this is what he had to say to UEFA’s official website:

“Our aim is to give as good an account of ourselves as we can and play to the best of our ability. They will always make chances as they are able to create opportunities against any side in the world. We need to make sure we are better in attack, something that was lacking in the first match between the sides.

The snow won't have an effect as there is undersoil heating at the ground, so the testing weather conditions won't be a factor for either team.”

Guardiola, meanwhile, praised his counterpart’s team:

“I know about Zoran Tošić and Sergei Ignashevich, who I think are excellent players. Alan Dzagoev is a very good player, exceptional at reading the game and excellent at adapting to situations that he is presented with. If he is not able to play it will make our lives a lot easier. Seydou Doumbia scored in CSKA's last game against Spartak Moskva and he's a great player with an excellent eye for goal.”

Provided that Bayern slip and slide with ease and without any further injuries, they should win. However, CSKA will make their job difficult; Bayern will have to win this with sheer hard work, because, aside from CSKA, the weather and possibly a few racist chants if recent history is to go by will also stand in their way.