Bayern Munich - CSKA Moscow: Russians head to Bavaria in search of qualification

Bayern Munich host CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night in the final game of the Champions League Group Stages. The German Champions have already secured top position but CSKA will be looking for a win to send them to the Round of 16.

Matchday five built Wednesday's matches up to a huge climax as Vasili Berezutski scored an injury-time goal to grab a 1-1 draw against Roma for CSKA Moscow, giving them a lifeline in Europe's top competition. Yet Sergio Aguero, now out with a knee injury, scored a stunning late hattrick to give Manchester City a shock 3-2 win over Bayern Munich and give themselves a Champions League lifeline.

Heading into the last games Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Roma could all progress in the slot behind Bayern who will be able to relax in the competition they won just two years ago. 

Bayern ran out victors in all four games before Sergio Aguero grasped 3 points from the German Champions, beating CSKA 1-0 in Russia in the second game of the group stages.

CSKA have already to fallen to Bayern once but cannot lose in Bavaria on Wednesday night having been humbled by a five-star Roma in Italy. They shared the points with both Manchester City and Roma as well as stunning an under whelming City side at home in Russia with a 2-1 triumph.

CSKA must win at the Allianz Arena and hope Roma victor against the English Champions Manchester City. Yet Bayern have won all 10 of their home games across all competitions this season so CSKA's challenge is giant, especially considering they have never won on German soil in their history.

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It is Berezutski, who scored the late equaliser to give CSKA a chance in matchday five, that is the only doubt for Leonid Slutsky's team selection but the Russians' saviour is expected to have recovered from a knock and will be raring to make history in Germany. 

Rasmus Elm is the only long-term injury with a stomach problem but CSKA are at full-strength heading into their most important fixture of the season thus far.

Bayern Munich have far more pressing injury problems with Phillip Lahm, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez  all out for the Bavarians. They need not run away with victory like in Rome where they put 7 past Rudi Garcia's side but as Claudio Pizarro, David Alaba, Tom Starke and Holger Badstuber also look from the sidelines Pep Guardiola will be forced to named a weakened side as he so often has done this season.

The one positive for the 5 time European Cup winners is that legendary midfielder and current Germany Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is chasing a first start of the season, working his way back from full fitness after 4 months out. 

The injuries to key midfield players like Schweinsteiger and Thiago have seen opportunities arise for the younger players like Sebastian Rode who arrived from Freiburg this summer.

Mehdi Benatia aided Manchester City's breathtaking comeback when he was given his marching orders so is suspended.

Thomas Muller said on the club website: "There are going to be a lot of fans in the stadium who we want to make happy, and that is our job,"

"We want to carry on the way we are going, then we can go on our holidays in a relaxed mood."

Both Phillip Lahm and Matthias Sammer, sporting director at Bayern, spoke of the need to continue their winning form up until the winter break.

"I do not know [if it would be a good idea to rotate]," Sammer told TZ. "On the other hand: yes. On the other hand: no.

"Because it is a risk that we could lose our momentum again when we leave six or seven first-team players out of the line-up.

"Under Pep there is a good attitude in the squad. He knows how important it is to keep momentum going."

Lahm told Sky: "I can understand that many people want us to lose, but we're not going to do anybody this favour,"

"We're not playing any bad games anymore. You get the feeling that we don't even know how to play badly." the 31-year-old said.

"Our coach is tactically sensational and you can see that in the way we play football. There's not been any moment recently in which we have not dominated our games."

Predicted Line Ups:

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Bernat, Rafinha, Benatia, Boateng, Gotze, Alonso, Ribery, Muller, Robben, Lewandowski

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, Berezutski V, Schennikov, Dzagoev, Cauna, Eremenko, Natkho, Musa, Doumbia

Bayern Munich

 CSKA Moscow