Bayern Munich vs. CSKA Moscow: 3 things Die Roten should test in UCL game

Bayern Munich take on CSKA Moscow on Wednesday in what will amount to little other than a dead-rubber for the German giants, who have already clinched first place in Champions League Group E by a minimum of four points.

The Russians are still in hot contention for second place in the group, however, being in a three-way tie with Roma and Manchester City. They face tough odds to advance, but will prove stiff competition for Pep Guardiola and company, even in Munich's Allianz Arena.

With Bayern having already won their group, Wednesday's fixture offers the rather unique condition of having no sporting significance for the Germans while putting them against a side that will be desperate for three points. It therefore is a chance for Guardiola to experiment, if he so chooses, against motivated opponents. Ahead of the match, here are three tactical experiments the Spanish trainer ought to try:

Lewandowski, Gotze, Ribery, Robben and Muller in the Same Lineup

With Philipp Lahm, David Alaba, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez all sidelined until after the winter break at the earliest, and Bastian Schweinsteiger being still relatively short of match practice, Guardiola is short of options in central midfield.

In the Bundesliga, that regularly has led to the trainer using Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller in the same lineup. Tactically, each has been given a relatively free role but the Pole, Dutchman and Muller have played more advanced and the Frenchman, Gotze and Xabi Alonso have been responsible to take more touches in midfield and to create play.

In Bayern's last Champions League match, their loss to Manchester City, Guardiola used only Lewandowski, Ribery and Robben in attack with Alonso, Pierre Hojbjerg and Sebastian Rode in midfield. This was a more conservative approach and an understandable one considering the caliber of their opponents. Domestically, the extremely aggressive, five-man attack has often dazzled and has been appropriate against generally mediocre Bundesliga sides. The only exception was a well-drilled, pressing Leverkusen side that pushed Guardiola's men to the limit on Saturday night.

CSKA are a decidedly lesser side than City, and certainly more appropriate opponents against which to test the same tactics Guardiola has been using in Germany. But the Champions League is a greater stage and the Russian side will be more motivated than the average Bundesliga team, so there is something for Bayern to gain from such a tactical approach in terms of knowledge and understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. If it works against CSKA, it might be a good "Plan B" for Bayern if they ever find themselves in desperate need for a goal or two in the Champions League knockout rounds.

Start Schweinsteiger

As previously noted, vice-captain Schweinsteiger has had very little match practice. The Germany international played his last full game nearly five full months ago in July and has hardly been used since returning to action in late November.

If there ever was a time to start a player in Schweinsteiger's situation, it's now. Bayern have nothing to lose and everything to gain in giving the 30-year-old a chance to regain his form and reacquaint himself with football at the highest level.

Schweinsteiger is an experienced player, but even veterans need time to adjust after a long-term injury. And Wednesday's match is the perfect chance for him to gain practice without there being consequences for any mistakes he foreseeably may make.

The other big benefit of using Schweinsteiger is that it also gives Guardiola the chance to rest Xabi Alonso, who's barely had a break all season long. The Spanish midfielder has played the full 90 minutes on all but seven occasions since joining Bayern in August, and has amassed (per Transfermarkt) over 1700 minutes already this campaign: Well over half as many as last season and well before the mid-season break. At 33 years of age, he's more prone to injury and fatigue than ever before. Starting Schweinsteiger in his place for Wednesday's dead-rubber may therefore be a wiser decision.

Rode at Right-Back

When Bayern confirmed the long-awaited signing of Sebastian Rode in April, it was unclear as to how the then-23-year-old would fit into the team. The Bavarians' midfield was so stacked with talent that another central player seemed superfluous. And indeed, the fact that Rode has barely played despite the departure of Toni Kroos and a blight of injuries among the club's central midfield options suggests the ex-Frankfurt man stands little chance of making a name for himself in Munich in his natural position.

One option that was discussed among Bayern fans after Rode's signing was the possibility of the robust midfielder playing at right-back. In his early years at Frankfurt, he often played in central defense. And with right-back being a relative weak point for Bayern after Philipp Lahm transition into midfield, the chances are better that Rode will replace Rafinha on the right of defense than a lengthy list of established, world-class midfielders.

Alternatively, Guardiola could try Pierre Hojbjerg at right-back, where the youngster excelled in May's DFB-Pokal final. Following the Dane's recent revelation of his desire to leave Munich (via Kicker, h/t Goal.com) this January, Guardiola would be wiser to leave Hojbjerg out of plans that could in Rode's case be useful in the long term. The German was excellent after his introduction to the Leverkusen match on Saturday and deserves another chance.

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