CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Bayern Munich made history on Wednesday, becoming the first team to win 10 matches in a row in the UEFA Champions League.

Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller found the back of the net in the Bundesliga giants’ 3-1 win away to CSKA Moscow, who got a goal back just after the hour mark from Keisuke Honda.

Bayern were late arriving at the Khimki Arena on the Russian capital’s outskirts due to a snowstorm and, over the course of the 90 minutes the conditions had more than a part to play in developments on the pitch.

The guests, however, seemed to adapt well to their environment and quickly established the fluid, passing game that has become their hallmark under manager Pep Guardiola.

CSKA, however, sought to pose a threat on the counter-attack and quickly earned a succession of corner kicks that were easily dealt with by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Then, in the 17th minute, the guests found themselves ahead when Robben sliced the ball inside the near post following a neat cutback from Thomas Muller, who had chased down a long pass on the left.

But by the half-hour mark, the slick surface had claimed its first casualty in the form of Bayern captain Phillip Lahm, who had to come off with a dead leg and was replaced by summer signing Thiago Alcantara.

CSKA, however, continued to get their share of chances and nearly equalized late in the half when Ahmed Musa, sprung into a good position, couldn’t quite get his shot off as he was closed down by three white shirts.

The hosts played some of their best football in the minutes just after the restart and twice in short order Honda failed to level the scoreline—first in the 47th minute when he couldn’t decide whether to shoot or hold up the play and again just three minutes later when he was found daydreaming as Kirill Nababkin crossed from the right.

CSKA would pay for their wastefulness when Gotze scored one of the goals of the competition to date.

Accepting Toni Kroos’ searching pass, the youngster skipped past four opponents before dancing beyond a third and arrowing a confident strike inside the far post for a 2-0 Bayern lead.

But barely had Gotze and his teammates concluded their celebrations when Honda pulled one back from the spot—Brazil defender Dante having been penalized for handball on the stroke of 60 minutes.

Muller, however, restored the tourists’ two-goal cushion when Bayern were awarded their own penalty following Georgy Schennikov’s foul on Robben.

Zoran Tosic would come close to pulling one back for CSKA when he rattled his shot off the crossbar with 11 minutes to play, but at the final whistle Bayern’s 100 per cent record in the Group Stage remained intact and they had surpassed the nine-game winning streak achieved by Barcelona just over a decade ago.

Key Player Grades

Mario Gotze: A+

He scored a spectacular goal that proved to be the winner and was an integral part of Bayern’s build-up play, with 80 touches of the ball and 95 per cent of his passes completed over the 90 minutes. (Statistics courtesy WhoScored.com)

Arjen Robben: A

Substitutions
Player	Grade
Akinfeev	B-
Nababkin	A-
Berezutski	B
Ignashevich	B-
Schennikov	B-
Wernbloom	C+
Milanov	C
Zuber	C
Honda	B
Tosic	B
Musa	B-
Vitinho	C
Elm	B-
Bazelyuk	C

One of Europe’s form players at the moment, the Netherlands international opened the scoring with a one-touch effort placed precisely inside the near post and had four shots on target.

Keisuke Honda: B

Substitutions
Player	Grade
Neuer	A
Rafinha	B+
Boateng	A
Dante	B+
Alaba	B-
Lahm	A
Muller	A-
Javi Martinez	A
Kroos	A
Robben	A
Gotze	A+
Thiago	A
Kirchhoff	A-
Green	B

He had so many chances to find the back of the net, but as it turned out his only goal came from the penalty spot—and from a soft penalty at that.

What’s Next?

CSKA Moscow are likely to be in a Europa League battle now and will visit Viktoria Plzen on December 10. That same evening Bayern Munich will host Group D rivals Manchester City.