Both teams head into the game following massive wins at the weekend. Bayern were three-nil victors over main title rivals Borussia Dortmund, putting seven points between the sides at this early in the season could prove crucial come May. While CSKA beat city rivals Spartak to keep alive their title hopes, and are now three points off of Zenit and Lokomotiv at the top of the table. The two sides are also in fine form, with the Bavarians being unbeaten this season and CSKA having won their last four league games, it could prove to be an interesting encounter.

A win for the home side would assure them of Europa League football for the remainder of the season, and Pep Guardiola's men are aiming to keep up their 100% record in the group, having just conceded one goal so far, they'll want to continue the trend and lay down a marker to their European rivals. It's not been all smooth sailing for Bayern, as after the Dortmund match, allegations emerged that a 'snitch' had been leaking tactics to German newspaper 'Bild', the Spaniard has been quoted as saying that the individual involved won't play for Bayern again and as you would expect, the rumour mill has been working overtime to try and predict who it is, with Diego Contento emerging as the bookies favourite. Other than that, the team that seem invincible to almost everyone around Europe are without Shaqiri, Ribéry, Schweinsteiger and Pizarro who were going to miss the game initally, and Contento, who didn't travel to Moscow, as well as Mario Mandzukic who picked up a calf injury from the wekend win, as they aim to trump Barcelona's record of nine straight Champions League victories. The Moscow side also have their problems heading into the match, while there are doubts over creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev who didn't feature against Spartak, their stadium is partially closed due to their fans behavour towards Manchester City's Yaya Toure in their last Champions League home game, apart from that Leonid Slutsky's team are at full strength following the Moscow derby at the weekend. 

The game could prove to be more exciting than it looks on paper, but as Bayern showed on Saturday, even without European player of the year Franck Ribéry and German football of the year Bastian Schweinsteiger, they are just too strong for most, if not all teams. CSKA may look towards damage limitation if Bayern get into their stride and will be hoping that there is no repeat of their two-five drubbing last time out to Manchester City.

Pep's summary looking ahead to the match in Moscow. "They have some very good players and are strong at the back and in attack. They are good at moving the ball forward quickly. It won't be easy, but I think we should win. We have a number of injury problems and will be without a number of players but I will put out our best available team. I trust my players completely. Every game is different and it is impossible to repeat past performances. It won't be easy. We are already through to the knockout stages and there is a chance we may ease off."

Leonid Slutsky's thoughts before the tie, "I feel we can do al ot more than we did [against Bayern] on matchday one - I don't think that game will have much of an effect on the result here. Bayern have just won 3-0 in the league against last season's Champions League runners-up and at present they are the best side in the world. 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."

Predicted line-ups

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Rafinha, van Buyten, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez; Müller, Kroos, Thiago, Robben; Götze. 

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; Mario Fernandes, A.Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov; Elm, Wernbloom; Tosic, Honda, Zuber; Doumbia.

All quotes from UEFA.

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About the author
Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]