CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich: Key Issues That Will Shape Champions League Game

Bayern Munich return to Champions League duty this weekend with a trip to Moscow on Tuesday to face CSKA Moscow in their first away game of this season's tournament. 

Pep Guardiola's team will be in a buoyant mood following their opening day win over Premier League side Manchester City and will take confidence from CSKA's resounding 5-1 defeat to Italian side, AS Roma. 

The Bundesliga champions will undoubtedly go into the game as strong favourites, having previously overcome the Russian side home and away by convincing margins at this point in last season's competition. 

Here are the key issues to consider ahead of this week's game. 

Bayern Prepped After Convincing Win in Cologne

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Although Bayern have stumbled at points already this season, Guardiola's team were able to pick up their first away win in the league with a strong 2-0 win over Cologne. 

Saturday's match saw the Bavarian champions come up against an opposition who had conceded just one goal in the league thus far, but thanks to the brilliant of Mario Gotze and an unfortunate own goal from Daniel Halfar, they were able to claim all three points. 

Such a performance away from home will only galvanise the squad as well as fans who may have feared a slump in form while away in Moscow. 

Guardiola said after the match, per FCBayern.de: “We’re delighted with our first away win of the season. It wasn’t easy because Koln were very well organised. We controlled possession, never lost concentration and stifled their counter attacks. We’re overnighting here in Cologne and then we’re off to Moscow.” 

CSKA Match Is a Must-Win

Gero Breloer/Associated Press

Although a long trip to Russia is never the preferred destination of any easy away tie in Europe, Guardiola will be aware of the fact that this game should undoubtedly be another three points for his side. 

With both ties against an impressive Roma side still to play, as well as a final matchday in Manchester, Bayern need to make sure they pick up maximum points against CSKA to ensure qualification from this tough group. 

“We want to win, and I'd almost say we have to win if you look at the constellation in the group,” said Matthias Sammer, Bayern's sporting director, prior to leaving Cologne on Sunday, per FCBayern.de.

Tuesday night's match is almost undoubtedly a must-win for the German champions. 

Past Meetings Not on CSKA's Side

Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press

Bayern and CSKA fans alike will go into Tuesday's game in the knowledge that the German side won both ties between the two clubs quite convincingly last season. 

Fans of the Russian club may offer some excuses for the temporary blip in form, but history would suggest that it was certainly expected. 

In the last 16 encounters against Russian opposition, Bayern have won no less than eight, drawing a further six and only losing on two separate occasions. 

Similarly, CSKA have struggled whenever asked to compete against German opposition, winning only two games from six encounters with Bundesliga teams.

According to the history books, this game looks like a foregone conclusion.  

Mario Gotze Now with Added Expectation

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

In the checkered absence of Bayern's two trusted wingers, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, Guardiola's side have turned instead to young Gotze in the hope of scoring and creating goals. 

Fortunately, the former Borussia Dortmund star hasn't dissapointed with an impressive five goals and two assists in just nine games this season. Three of those goals have come in the last two games, per Transfermarkt.

After scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final just a few months ago, Gotze looks to have truly revitalised his role at Bayern and will undoubtedly be a key figure in this coming Champions League tie. 

Irregularities Could Lead to a Jaded Performance

Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

Although it may only be a minor point, Bayern go into a game against this Moscow side surrounded by factors that don't usually come up for the Bundesliga champions. 

The most notable of these is the fact that the game will be played behind closed doors—a UEFA sanction imposed for racist incidents involving CSKA supporters during the final group match of last season against Viktoria Plzen—meaning no fans to cheer on the side. 

Of course, it isn't just a long flight and no fans that looks to have upset Bayern's preparation. 

Similarly, the team was awoken late on Sunday night when their hotel in Moscow was suddenly brought to life by an ill-timed fire alarm. As reported by FCBayern.de, the team were evacuated to a nearby restaurant for an "unscheduled team-building session" before they were allowed to return to their rooms. 

Not exactly the best way to prepare for an important Champions League tie.