Bayern Munich claimed a 1-0 win, away from home, against CSKA Moscow.
Bayern started the game the strongest with the Bavarian side dominating in possession and the Germans kept on knocking on CSKA’s front door with a couple of early chances. Arjen Robben came close to breaking the deadlock but his shot from outside the box was well saved from Akinfeev in the 11th minute. Bayern finally took the lead in the 21st minute. Mario Gotze managed to squeeze into the penalty box but the 22-year-old was brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. Thomas Muller stepped up and the German international fired the ball past the Russian keeper to make it 1-0 to the German champions.
CSKA had chances to equalise in the first half. Musa and Tosic both came close to scoring in the 37th minute. Musa’s first shot was well saved from Manuel Neuer and Tosic’s follow up blazed wide over the bar. Eremenko also came close to equalising for the hosts but his curling shot clipped the corner of the bar. Robben, Lewandowski and Gotze all had great chances to double their lead but they were all denied by a series of blocks, boots and saves from the CSKA defence.
Bayern started the second half almost as well as they started the first half. Gotze and Lewandowski linked up perfectly together as the German midfielder found Lewandowski costless inside the penalty box but CSKA left-back Georgiy Schennikov brilliantly blocked Lewandowski’s goal bound shot. CSKA again defended like their lives depend on it as the back 4 blocked out Lewandowski and Robben from scoring Bayern’s second goal of the evening. However the one goal was enough to give the reigning German champions the valuable 3 points.